selfcare – a cooking pot and twisted tales

It is so easy to fall into a rut especially when life becomes monotonous that you can literally function on autopilot without paying much mind to what you are doing.

Consequently, weeks of functioning like that can lead to dissatisfaction which creeps in and we start feeling that life is a tedium and getting stuck in a rut can be frustrating and demotivating.

Life will seem like a tiresome cycle of chore, responsibilities, bills and expectations. Getting out of this sense of drudgery is seriously essential for our total well-being especially as adults who have a lot of burden to bear.

Every single day, I make conscientious effort to engage in wholesome activities that enhance my sense of purpose, peace and harmony.

I listen to music, I dance, I read, I go for walks, I exercise, I watch movies and comedies, I pray, I think good thoughts. I write, I create. I live in a dream world. I try to do things a bit differently.

Often, I wear vibrant clothes and colors as much as possible. I affirm myself every single day and so on and so forth. Practicing some form of self-care peps up one’s spirit and pulls you out of the doldrums.

What works for me, might not be your cup of tea, nevertheless, here are some strategies to help you avoid getting stuck:

Shake Up Your Routine regularly
Try something new: Engage in a new hobby, activity, or class to challenge yourself and discover new interests.
Change your environment: Rearrange your workspace, take a different route, or travel to a new place to stimulate your mind.
Mix up your social circle: Meet new people, attend events, or join a club to expand your social network.

Set Goals and Challenges
Set SMART goals: Create Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals to focus on.
Break tasks into smaller steps: Divide large tasks into manageable chunks to maintain momentum.
Create a challenge for yourself: Set a personal challenge, like running a marathon or learning a new language.

Practice Self-Care
Get enough sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep to help your brain function at its best.
Exercise regularly: Engage in physical activity to boost your mood and energy levels.
Meditate and practice mindfulness: Take time to relax, focus on the present, and reduce stress.

Seek Inspiration and Support
Read inspiring stories: Explore books, articles, or podcasts that share stories of overcoming obstacles.
Find a mentor or accountability partner: Connect with someone who can offer guidance, support, and motivation.
Join a community or group: Participate in online forums, social media groups, or local meetups to connect with like-minded individuals.

Embrace Failure and Learning
View failure as a learning opportunity: Recognize that mistakes are an essential part of growth and development.
Reflect on your experiences: Take time to analyze what went wrong and how you can improve in the future.
Celebrate small wins: Acknowledge and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small they may seem.

You must remember that life is what we make of it and each day, we owe it to ourselves to make our living worthwhile.

Till next time.

It has been on my mind to do a 3-day fast for various reasons, but I wasn’t so sure if I could see it through as it is my first time of embarking on such on a long fast. Nevertheless, I chose to give it a go and to hopefully stick to it.

I kicked off my fasting the evening of the 28th after a sumptuous dinner at 6.30pm and a prayer that I will be able to survive voluntarily going without food for 3 days.

My desire to do the fasting were underpinned by the following reasons:
– to gain more mental clarity,
– a spiritual retreat,
– body detox,
– healing from inflammation, i
– improve my health through Autophagy (body’s process of cleaning out damaged cells)
– possibly break through a weight loss plateau that I have been experiencing.

I am well into day 2 of my fast and this is what I have to say. “IT is not for the faint-hearted, ‘cos the hunger pangs will make you feel like diving into the fridge every second to find something to munch on. You feel like saying ‘to hell with this and ordering a huge pizza or burger for good measure.”

On the positive side, I feel more energized, I feel less heavy and have zero bloating. The pain in my knees have reduced so much and for the first time in ages, I can truly say that I am fine if someone were to ask me, how are you. I have spent some extra time reflecting, reading the bible, praying and listening to uplifting messages.
I am hoping that by the end of the 3-day fast tomorrow, I would have dropped a few pounds and plan to keep them off.

Tips that have helped me so far, is drinking warm water, keeping busy and trying to think less about the food and more about how good I feel.

This is just my personal experience and before you embark on such, check yourself to be sure that it is something you can do from a medical standpoint.

Have you ever done an extended fasting and would you consider doing it?