November 9, 2016 – Self-Care Plan

Self Care Plan

   “Love yourself first, and everything else falls in line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.”

                                                                                                                                        Lucille Ball (1911-1989) American actress

     When I was giving stress management seminars to nurses, a “Self Care Plan” was an essential element. As caring people who are always making care plans for others, nurses often neglect the most important care plan of all: their own.

     In fact, we all tend to do that. It’s difficult for some of us to accept the difference between self-centeredness and self-care. Think about it and it becomes clear: self-care is absolutely necessary for a healthy and productive life; self-centeredness is a character flaw. Too often false guilt wins out and we consider self care a fault.

     Also, it seems more and more necessary in our highly technological age, to make your care plan specific. So make a list― even if it’s only in your head: What do you do to take care of yourself? Be specific, especially keeping in mind your response (positive or negative) to the election results.

     If you find this challenging and your list non-existent or very short, it’s time for a change. For motivation, recall Lucille Ball’s words: To get anything done, you have to love yourself.