self care hacks mini series: post #1

 

Look guys, these are basic human needs.

However, there are so many different hurdles that the spicy brained have to deal with for each one. Most of them are not something I would have ever considered before having to find solutions for my husband and children. 

"What is the problem getting into the shower when your hair is greasy and your head itches?"

"Your gums hurt after eating, why not brush your teeth?"

"After you take off your socks there are little rips where your toes were, why can’t you cut your nails and throw away those socks?"

 (*Greatly exaggerated responses to show the type of situations I am talking about, not that I, or anyone I actually know, have said these things.*) 

Definitely not trying to shame anyone here. I know how difficult some of these things are for a lot of people. Finding my compassion for some of these scenarios was on me, not on them.

I also think it might have something to do with growing up and as the children grow and gain more responsibilities and activities they start to feel that they have so much less time to spend on certain things. I do not think they mean to do it, but I can see it happening. They get done with college, go right to work, come home, and do homework. After all that the least thing they want to do is more work, even if it is to help themselves. They want to play video games or hang out with their friends. Self-care for them is more mental than physical. While I absolutely agree that it is important, taking care of our bodies is just as important as taking care of our minds and emotions. The two are also intricately connected.

The saying goes:

 “If you think everyone is angry at you, take a nap. If you are angry at everyone, eat something.  If you are angry at yourself, take a shower.”

I don't know who the original author is of this quote, and now it is a common saying. I really should find a motivational poster of this and put it up in each one of my kid’s bedrooms, come to think of it. If you know of any, drop me a link in the comments. This will not fix all of your problems. However, it will help you see them a little more clearly.

We have made some accommodations for different people in the house. Sometimes, you need to shower without the light on or the fan to reduce how much stimulation you are getting. Listening to music in the shower lets you go on autopilot to clean yourself, so you do not have to think about it too much. Watching a YouTube video while brushing your teeth works as a distraction and a timer.

The basics we have boiled down to are for hair, face, teeth, shower, drinking water, nutritious food, and mental/emotional care.

I am sure there are plenty more categories and sub-categories. I could go into a deep dive into each one and list everything that could work for everyone, ever. But in the spirit of brevity, I am going to stick with what we have tried and what works for those in my family only. 

Stick around for post #2 where I will address the first line of the advice!