Self Care isn’t Selfish
I write everything down! It’s how I learn, process, absorb and also pick back up where I left off with clarity. And naturally it was the first thing I did as my medical journey unfolded – got a fresh notebook, and a pen and started writing. In the hospital I documented everything – every doctor or nurse that went in and out of my room, the results of my tests, labs and scans – and even my own personal list of things I needed to do when I got home. I got it all down AND I got it all out of my head! This immediately brought me peace of mind because I knew I hadn’t missed a beat during critical conversations and could replay them back to family and friends, as needed and with confidence.
Out of the hospital the logging continued --every conversation, every phone call, every person I encountered….went in the notebook. Then I started weaving in my own daily bio metrics that I came to know so well in the hospital – blood pressure readings, resting heart rate, blood oxygen levels, temperature and weight. Every single day, I have a morning routine before I even lay eyes on my first cup of coffee.
It’s called self-care, and those precious 5 minutes matter!
I know I will experience changes way before my doctor does. So why not start paying attention to the very things that they do, and from the comfort of my home?
And you know the cool part – I got to see with my own eyes the improvements I was making! As the days clicked on my heart rate rolled back to normal levels, my blood pressure was normal, any fear of a fever was mitigated immediately and I’m sucking in more oxygen than ever. All because I monitor with my only mini version of self-care.
Of course, practicing this goes WAY beyond basic bio screenings (I know this!) but my point in all of this is that a little steering a piece of your health on your own is a sure fire way to shake away a little bit of fear, doubt or uncertainty you may have. So why not? And the best part – for my next doctor’s appointment, I showed up with my trusty notebook – yes, to take notes during our session but also to share my daily diagnostics log with her. She was so appreciative of the history lesson I brought to the table and it helped guide our conversation that much deeper.
Self care isn't selfish! Always remember the captain of your own ship, in the driver’s seat of your own road ahead and all of the other clichés you can think of. So do yourself a favor – WRITE IT DOWN!
Time to find a notebook!
Hi – yes! Feel free to use my Contact Us page and complete the form. TY!
Excellent question. I often find my best time to write is in the morning. After I’ve eaten, exercised and gotten ready for the day but BEFORE I dig into work, emails and other daily to-do’s. This is when my focus is fresh and my mind is most clear. Perhaps you can experiment with your best time of day. Also – I use a lot of lists! So I don’t lose track of all of my ideas that I want to focus on eventually. Sometimes a few ideas on the list merge into a solid single blog. And just for overall good health, a good meditation, focused on your mantra or positive outlook for the day is always a good idea! Use some uplifting essential oils and it’s a recipe for success. I hope this helps!! luvyourlungs.com
It’s wonderful that you are getting thoughts from this article as well as
from our discussion made at this place.
First off I would like to say excellent blog! I had a quick question that I’d like
to ask if you do not mind. I was curious
to find out how you center yourself and clear your
thoughts before writing. I’ve had a difficult time
clearing my mind in getting my ideas out there. I
do enjoy writing but it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes tend to be wasted simply just trying to figure out how to begin. Any recommendations
or hints? Thank you!
What’s up, I read your blog regularly. Your story-telling style is witty, keep it up!
I really like what you guys tend to be up too. This sort of clever work
and coverage! Keep up the superb works guys I’ve incorporated
you guys to blogroll.