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These days we hear a lot about: self-care, loving yourself, making sure you do not get depleted.<\/span><\/strong> And how do you react when you hear those messages?<\/p>\n Yeah, but I don\u2019t have time for that, you don\u2019t know what goes on in my life.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n I know, but first this situation has to change and then I will take care of myself.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n I can\u2019t do stuff for myself because that makes me feel guilty.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n And so on and so on\u2026<\/p>\n You know what they say:<\/p>\n \u2018When you don\u2019t have time to meditate, that\u2019s when you need at least one hour of meditation.\u2019<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n The whole point of taking care of yourself, of loving yourself as much as you love other people, of making sure you stay energized, is, that this will make you able to continue to be there for others.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The biggest act of love towards yourself, AND others, is making sure you stay healthy and happy. Without self-care you won\u2019t be able to. I know, I used to -and I still have to be very aware not to relapse- always put others first.<\/span> This never ends well.<\/span> You either get sick, burned-out, or your relationship ends, or you lose your job\u2026 As Courtney Carver* says so accurately: \u201cThis will end up in a break-down, or a break-up, or both.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n That\u2019s why I am such a big advocate of self-care.<\/p>\n The better you take care of yourself, the better you\u2019ll be able to handle anything in life, including taking care of others.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n My invitation to everyone is: no matter where you are in life, make a plan for self-care, write it down, put time slots in your agenda.<\/span> Treat those moments** as you would any other important meetings in your agenda.<\/p>\n Make sure your plan contains following aspects:<\/p>\n Keep your body** as healthy as possible:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Get enough sleep***!<\/p>\n Eat healthy stuff.<\/p>\n Move your body.<\/p>\n Take some extra vitamins when things are a bit tough in life.<\/p>\n Stretch.<\/p>\n Breathe****<\/p>\n Practice some sports.<\/p>\n Make a list AND put the activities in your agenda!! With a reminder.<\/p>\n Keep your mind** as positive as possible:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Steer your thoughts*****,<\/p>\n Whenever you feel yourself repeating the same thoughts over and over again: say \u2018stop!\u2019 and very consciously change the thoughts that are going through your mind.<\/p>\n Cultivate your ‘mental muscles’**, learn how you can direct the movie that goes on in your head. Learn how to do this, and practice this daily.<\/p>\n Know, and believe, that there is always a positive side to be found, train yourself to look at every aspect of a situation until you find a positive side, no matter how small.<\/p>\n Connect with positive people.<\/p>\n Meditate.<\/p>\n Read inspiring books.<\/p>\n Listen to inspiring people.<\/p>\n Make a list AND put the activities in your agenda!! With a reminder.<\/p>\n Keep your heart as \u2018expanded\u2019 as possible:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Make sure you do things that make your heart ‘expand’, that make your heart \u2018sing\u2019; It\u2019s up to you what those things are:<\/p>\n Walk in nature.<\/p>\n Dance.<\/p>\n Sing.<\/p>\n Paint.<\/p>\n Work in your garden.<\/p>\n Read.<\/p>\n Have a lovely conversation.<\/p>\n Cuddle.<\/p>\n Go to a museum.<\/p>\n Go to the zoo.<\/p>\n Watch a comedy, or a romantic movie.<\/p>\n Cook.<\/p>\n Do whatever works for you.<\/p>\n Make a list AND put the activities in your agenda!! With a reminder.<\/p>\n Winter time is coming, the days will shorten again, life throws us curveballs now and then, \u2026 so I believe it\u2019s beneficial to everyone<\/strong> <\/span>to make this list, and start doing whatever you\u2019ve put on it. Know, and BELIEVE, that self-care is as crucial and as vital as breathing!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n