Try this quick acupressure practice to help you start to thaw out your upper spine and neck, and bring a little mobility back to those places that have been swaddled in turtlenecks and scarves for so many months.
Read MorePeople who spend their days caring for others often appreciate the escape a good book can provide. Getting lost in a captivating story counts as selfcare—it’s a mental vacation, after all. But often the titles we choose have a hidden benefit …
Read MoreFor a lot of people—especially those who spend their time caring for others—focusing on themselves ends up at the bottom of a loooooong priority list. Our schedules are overfull, we don’t have the equipment we think we’ll need, and it all just seems like too much work because we’re exhausted. But there is a way for caregivers to sneak in some selfcare each week …
Read MoreThere are many ways to mindfully mark the start of a new 12-month cycle. If you’re caring for others it can often feel like much of your life is out of your control, but choosing a tool to help you focus your selfcare thoughts and actions can prevent you from squandering your precious “me”-time, and help you stay attuned to what’s truly most important to you …
Read MoreTake just a few minutes to try this standing exploration. It turns your attention inward so you can notice your breathing and how it impacts your entire body--as well as your mental state … and that’s critical for those who care for others.
Read MoreWhether you’re preparing for a vigorous yoga class—or recovering from a long day on your feet as a caregiver—finding your feet can help you feel mentally and emotionally settled as well. Here’s one way to do it …
Read MoreWhether we tend to other people as part of our careers or not, if we have any sort of relationships at all (human or otherwise), we’ll all find ourselves in the role of caregiver at some point in our lives. And while every caregiving situation is unique, I was reminded of a few commonalities within the first few days of my husband’s recovery from his recent surgery during this National Family Caregivers Month …
Read MoreWe all do it. We store tension in our face. Here’s a quick acupressure practice to help you release that tightness on the spot.
Read MoreStudies show that meditation’s benefits are gifts that will keep on giving if you can just set aside a few minutes each day to sit in stillness. But if your to-do list feels longer than a year-old CVS receipt, I have an idea for you …
Read MoreSometimes we really only have a minute or two between the many tasks of caring for someone else. Thankfully, that’s all you need for this acupressure practice, which you can manage to sneak in even while you’re doing something else.
Read MoreIt’s a rare event to spot a caregiver standing still for any length of time. There are appointments to drive to, errands to run, meals to prep, calls to make, kids to look after, etc. But if you can manage to find just a few minutes to be still during your day, you just might discover an entire world around—and within—you.
Read MoreOne of the most important things a busy caregiver can do for all-around wellness is to be in the current moment. Doing that helps you stay safe and grounded in your body, focused mentally and in-tune emotionally. But how do we do that when our local retail outlets started displaying Halloween costumes when temps were still in the 90s?
Read MorePlans, hopes and wishes … no matter how hard we might work to make our dreams reality, there are times we would appreciate a little boost of support behind them. Here are the steps I take to set an intention with a little extra oomph.
Read MoreHave you ever found yourself wallowing so deeply in disappointment, frustration or even anger about a situation you have no control over as you spend your days caring for others, that you catch yourself missing out on the good things right in front of you? Here are 3 ways to change that.
Read MoreFind balance through breath with sama vrtti, Sanskrit for equal breathing. It’s an ideal, accessible practice for those caring for others each day. This practice--which you can do anywhere--will sharpen your focus, let distracting throughts fall away and help soothe your nervous system.
Read MoreIf you spend most of your time caring for others, getting ample down time can be a huge challenge. Interrupted sleep, schedule changes and unplanned events can often seem like the norm. But taking the Universe up on small, unexpected sense pauses during the day—and looking at them as gifts instead of monkey wrenches—just might help us realize that feeling better rested could be within our reach.
Read MoreHey, caregiver: If it seems like the summer of 2021 is speeding by, without enough time to enjoy the still-long days at the beginning of harvest season, suspend time with some restorative yoga self care.
Read MoreRecently my path has crossed with Hummingbird, a tiny winged reminder to pause during the day (a helpful tool for a caregiver who tends to focus on others). While I was receiving those messages from the animal kingdom, I was getting other, more startling wake-up calls from the material world as well.
Read MoreLots of seemingly insignificant things happen during during our busy days—especially when we spend our time caring for others. But those unusual, repeated and timely happenings may have important messages for us. Learn how I turned two noteworthy events this spring into a useful daily self-care tool.
Read MoreThree ways that bee tending can inspire us to care for ourselves—even as we’re caring for others
Read Moreall photos by Fournier & Malloy Photographers unless otherwise noted (except musings). all rights reserved 2024.
