The Importance of Self Care – Clear Spaces (314) 956-2282

Look After Yourself — St. Louis, MO — Clear Spaces

Denise’s note: I emphasis the importance of self-care with my clients. It is practically impossible to manage one’s life if mental and physical health are constantly sabotaged due to poor self-care. Speaking to this point is guest writer Amy Lee who is currently studying at Kansas University as a dietitian intern. And yes, Amy is my brilliant daughter.

The holidays are coming up, and while this season is called the most wonderful time of the year, for many it can also be very stressful. Between family gatherings, preparations, and schedule changes, it can be hard to remember to take care of yourself during this busy time. Today, we’ll discuss not only why it’s important to care for yourself, but some ways in which you can do so.

Why practice self care?

To explain why exactly self-care is so important, especially during the holidays, I like to reference the car analogy. First, imagine a car. Cars can do all sorts of things, like commute to work, drive to the store, and help friends move. They work hard, but they get things done. Now, imagine that no one takes care of this car. Maintenance checks and oil changes are skipped, recall orders lapse, and nobody ever buys it new tires. That car isn’t as effective at doing all of its jobs now, right? It doesn’t run as smoothly, and maybe it even has a few moments where it can’t work at all.

Maintaining care for yourself is similar to maintaining that car. It’s important to sometimes take breaks, treat yourself, and listen to your body because otherwise, you may end up overtaxing yourself and feeling frustrated.

How do I care for myself?

This is a hard question, because it’s so different for each individual. I’ll provide some ideas below, but a good place to start is to begin a running list of things that make you feel taken care of on your phone or a notepad. For instance, if you’ve noticed that you feel more relaxed and clearheaded after walking your dog, write that down as a go-to thing to do when you’re stressed or anxious. This way, you have multiple gameplans to help you cope when times may be too busy to think straight. Here are some suggestions for things you can do to take care of yourself:

5-minute Freshen Up: Take a few minutes to comb through your hair, splash water on your face, and brush your teeth. If you can, change clothes into something comfortable or put on a pair of fuzzy socks.
Guided Meditation: If you’ve never tried to meditate before, have no fear! Guided meditation involves someone walking you through the process and telling you exactly what to do step-by-step. As a bonus, there are many guided meditation guides available on YouTube or apps, so you can do them in the privacy of your home. Here’s a good 5-minute one to try: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i50ZAs7v9es.
Get moving: sometimes, a quick stretch or a brisk walk can not only clear your mind, but deliver extra oxygen to your muscles and refresh you long into the day.

However you care for yourself this season (and always), make sure to make time to do so by writing it on your to-do list or setting a timer on your phone. Happy holidays!

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Getting Yourself Organized For Nasty Weather

By Denise Lee • 22 May, 2019

Truth be told, I’m a bit of a weather fanatic. When the weather turns ugly, I can often be found checking weather apps and watching the local weather reports. Part of my keen interest is due to scientific curiosity. The other part is due to a healthy concern for safety. As interesting as weather is, it can be very dangerous. When I meet with clients during the spring I ask them how they intend to keep themselves safe during bad weather. Spring is tornado season in the Midwest, and it’s not a question of “if” a bad storm comes, It’s a question of “when.” There are several things we check for in preparing for storms. There is an uncluttered place in the basement or on the first floor to shelter. You want a space that does not have windows. If you are sheltering in the basement, make sure there is nothing heavy on the floor above you. You do not want a piano to land on you. If you are sheltering on the first floor, make sure there are as many walls as possible between you and the outside – for instance, a closet in the middle of the first floor. You can get to the designated shelter easily. The path to the shelter should be uncluttered. If you are recovering from clutter, you may want to consider putting painters’ tape on the floor to mark a 3-foot path to the shelter. Remove all clutter from that path and keep that path clear. If your shelter is in the basement, make sure the stairs are clear. When moving quickly to escape a storm, you may not be as sure-footed as you normally are. Items on the stairs can become especially dangerous under those circumstances. If using the stairs is difficult for you, consider creating a shelter on the first floor. You may not have time to use the stairs. Protect yourself from airborne debris, which is the cause of most injuries from a tornado. Have pillows, blankets, or sleeping bags at hand in the shelter. Wrapping yourself up can help protect you from flying debris. I have heard of people putting a mattress over themselves, but most of my clients cannot maneuver a mattress off the bed and carry it to the shelter. Do the best you can with what you have. You should absolutely wear shoes. If there isn’t time to put them on before you go to the shelter, grab them on your way. A bike helmet could be a handy thing to have. Have a first-aid kit too in case someone does get hurt. Count on the power going out. You will need flashlights and battery-operated lanterns. It’s not unusual for power to go out before you need to move to the shelter, so it’s a good idea to have a flashlight in every room. Avoid candles and lanterns that use a flame. If a gas leak results from the storm, a spark can cause an explosion. Have a battery-operated weather-band radio in the shelter so you can get updates. A backup battery for your phone is nice to have too. Some radios have a power bank built in for your electronics, like this one: http://tinyurl.com/y4c8ryc9 . If you live with someone who is deaf, you may want to invest in a weather radio with strobe light notification, like this one: http://tinyurl.com/y3rk6er8 . Keep your pets under control. You may want to put your small pets in a carrier and larger pets on a leash. When pets are scared – and storms are pretty scary – do not count on them to be their normally well-behaved selves. Keep informed. Keep your radio on and check the news apps on your phone. Tornados aren’t the only destructive storms. High winds can uproot trees and bring them down on powerlines, houses and cars. Hail can wreak incredible damage too. Be prepared. Set up your storm shelter now. Declutter your path now. A few minutes of work can make the difference in how you are affected by a storm.