There is SO much we know about a recipe for health. Are we doing what we know to be healthy?
Life gets in the way and frankly, focussing on ourselves is difficult. Prioritizing self-care is not necessarily a guilt free endeavor. What about our children, spouses and parents? Don’t they require our care? And what do we do for self-care? How did we learn to do these things? Is what we are doing right? And with the time and money we have are we getting the most benefit we can?
For me personally, optimal self-care is a goal that I strive for but don’t necessarily ever reach. I try to prioritize healthy, whole foods diet, regular exercise and good sleep. These, I believe are fundamental to our basic well-being. There are certainly times when life gets in the way of the these practices and so it is the continual striving that I think is key. Keeping your eye on the prize while being patient and understanding with yourself is the way to go.
Naturopathic medicine expertise is in the area of self-care practices and I think that lots of medical problems can be avoided if we optimize how we care for ourselves and our loved ones. Simply starting by serving a veggie snack to your kids or going for a walk in the fall weather are good places to start. Each day, as these tiny efforts accumulate your body and mind and loved ones will thank you.