World of Writer Mom

Saturday, August 20, 2022

Taking Care of Yourself Series - Part I

Water - The benefits of soaking in peace

By: M.B.Varville-Rodriguez

This article sponsored by: EMPAVA Appliances

We are often sucked into a never-ending vortex of busyness that leaves little to no time for rest and healing. We push through pain. We ignore symptoms. We disregard the schedule that begs for us to make that appointment to figure out where things went sideways. We put our personal need for rest and recovery on hold, often waiting like someone hoping for human contact when we make a phone call to resolve a customer service concern. The consequences of neglecting our personal wellness includes decreased physical, mental, and emotional health. Take a moment to stop and consider how this is impacting your quality of life.

No matter how long you try to reject the increasing symptoms, you inevitably have a reckoning day. Perhaps your body rebels to the point you end up with a debilitating illness. Maybe you require a trip to the emergency room to treat "sudden" onset of fever and pain. Your body will be required to confront its lack of self care. Humans are not created to endure on-going, chronic conditions, without some type of consequences. Your need to work past the point of pain to meet financial and family responsibilities will catch up with you. Guess what? You are now facing the collateral damage of habitually "working through" the cues your body has been screaming. Take a deep breath. It's time to reconcile the pain and develop a plan to heal.

Strategies for overcoming pain and exhaustion:

1. Dedicate a time to schedule those appointments you have been avoiding. It needs to happen! Invest the time and resources necessary to become healthier and create a plan of care with your medical provider.

2. Find out what resources are offered by your employer and work with Occupational Health, Employee Assistance Programs, and your supervisor to ensure you have a team on your side. A healthy employee who is supported will be worth a company's investment. A supported employee is one who will be a loyal team member who can assist others going through hard times too. Any employer unwilling to see this benefit creates unhealthy situations, and will result in staff retention challenges.

3. Document your journey toward a healthier self. Work with your medical team to ensure follow up and compliance with the plan of care. Press your "reset" button and visualize a healthier self.

4. Think about ways to enhance your living situation and environment. Identify what makes your body feel healthy. How can you incorporate Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) into your wellness plan?

5. List ways your can "reward" your body for completion of wellness goals. For example: Where do you feel at peace? What does peace look like for you? Write down some strategies that will support this reward.

Real life application of strategies:

One of my favorite strategies includes water. My "peaceful environment" includes visualizing the ocean, a beach cottage, and my favorite items to include in the beach cottage. To simulate this at home, I consider how to create my own oasis. Special lighting, a scented candle, soft textured towels, aromatherapy, moisturizing lotion, and a bathtub for soaking are perfect ways to provide self-care. Soaking in peace gives your body time to regulate, relax, and heal. (Disclaimer: Make sure your check with your medical provider regarding any contraindications that would prevent you from using this technique.)

Invest in yourself and encourage your family to do the same. Our children learn the most through our example. Teach them how to be compassionate toward others, but also teach them to be compassionate toward themselves. Let's remove the guilt that often results in ignoring the symptoms of burn-out, physical pain, and emotional neglect.

Wishing you good health, happiness, balance, and peace.

Thanks for taking time to read this blog.

You are appreciated!

Wishing all of you many adventures,
solutions to your challenges,
answers to your prayers,
& resources to help you survive
all of your collaborative projects!

(And... a good dose of ranting to release the stress once in a while)
Kindest Wishes,
~ Mary

Other networking opportunities:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/MamasMarketforMillenials

https://www.facebook.com/writermomadvocate/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/MARYSTEA

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Tuesday, February 1, 2022

CONTENTMENT - Eleven Points

This post sponsored by

CONTENTMENT - ELEVEN POINTS

by: M.B.Varville-Rodriguez

Contentment may not be as simple as we'd like. Searching for it, longing for it, dreaming about it, and hoping to find it continues to be a life-long treasure hunt for many. Although circumstances often create roadblocks to our contentment, there are a few coping strategies we can consider along the way. Contentment is a dynamic condition, and one that is worth pursuing. Here are a few ideas to get you started. I look forward to hearing your ideas too. Let me know where you are in your adventures and shout out a few of your own resources here.

Choices - It helps to consider more than one way to reach your goals. Often, we box ourselves into a one and done method. Give yourself permission to release yourself from this limitation. Choices open our eyes to new possibilities. Work, relationships, and financial matters can be linked to our choices.

Opportunities - Find moments to expand your circle of resources, get out of your comfort zone to network with others, research new careers, and sign up to learn something new. If we stay "stuck" in our current position, we risk losing our flexibility for change. It's easy to remain in what becomes familiar long after it is healthy for us, simply because we are afraid to move forward. Change can be difficult for many of us. Practice seeking out other opportunities to enhance your experiences in life.

Numerous adventures - Adventures do not need to be elaborate, expensive, or intense to be meaningful. An adventure can be learning something new, going on a hike, exploring a section of town you've never seen, or planning a short road trip. Adventures offer a range of experiences that can enhance your feeling of connection to family and friends. They can even provide a way for you to enjoy time to yourself. Getting away from your typical schedule or routine can boost your brain and recharge your energy. For anyone who has anxiety when veering too far off a routine, you might choose to have some quiet time. Your adventure is whatever you need on your way to contentment.

Tenacious decisions - When faced with serious circumstances, life-altering situations, and season-of-life desires for change, remember that perseverance and consistency create the path toward our goals. Research your resources, write down your strategies, and evaluate your progress. Make those tenacious decisions! Expect to be nervous and scared. Change, even good change, is hard and uncomfortable. Lean into that discomfort and keep moving. It is within these moments of change that we begin to find contentment.

Encouragement - It can be difficult if not impossible to infuse yourself with inspiration. Sometimes we struggle to find the motivation, strength, and endurance required to push forward. This is when you find your team of individuals who add positive energy, uplift your spirit, and emotionally support your plan of action. If you find that someone is pulling you down with all the reasons "that can't work", it's time to reduce your contact with them and recognize they are one of the reasons we sabotage ourselves. Encouragement can come from many sources. Find what works for you.

Nourishment - Commit to healthy food, drink, and physical movement. Start with small changes and remain consistent. When we are accustomed to doing things a certain way for a long period of time, rewiring our brains to do something different takes time. Give yourself grace on the days when you feel discouraged. Keep working toward your goals and schedule reminders throughout the day to inspire follow through.

Tranquility - Find moments throughout your day to breathe, release tension, and be at peace. This is often one of the most difficult tasks to accomplish. We are all so busy and often over-scheduled. Even a few seconds to close your eyes and visualize a place where you feel calm can make a difference. If you have a 30-minute lunch break, consider taking the first 5 minutes to decompress and the last 5 minutes to re-energize your mind before returning to work. Visualize a box where you "store" your concerns for that period of time. It doesn't mean you're ignoring the tasks waiting for you. Instead, think about this as a temporary parking spot where you have to turn off your engine. Breathing and counting exercises can also help.

Movement - Short breaks throughout your day to get up and move have been proven to increase productivity, enhance creativity, improve brain function, and decrease stress. More intense movement where you increase your heart rate improves cardiovascular health. Lifting weights improves muscle tone and enhances overall sense of well-being. Whether you choose to move several times throughout the day for quick brain breaks or schedule in a workout, movement is an important strategy in your quest for contentment.

Education - The process of learning has the potential to boost confidence, enhance sense of self-worth, and improve opportunities to make an impact in your chosen career field. The more we engage in learning about the world in which we live, the better we can understand ourselves and the people with whom we come into contact. Embrace new strategies, methods, and techniques as you commit to reading, research, and activities. Take time to boost your mind and challenge your brain.

Negotiation - There is a fine art in learning how to appreciate individual differences, understanding how people engage in discussions, and discerning what it takes to work toward mutually beneficial outcomes. One of the best ways to develop your negotiation skills is to develop a strong enough sense of self that you can put aside ego and personal gain. Be willing to compliment others and appreciate what they have to offer throughout your negotiations. As with any fine art, successful interactions take time and plenty of practice.

Teamwork - Collaborating with others to share resources, develop strategies, and create programs in a supportive environment can lead to satisfying experiences whether at home, in the workplace, or in a sports arena. Teamwork involves planning, negotiations, contracting, timelines, and the ability to follow through on projects from start to completion. The dynamic pull of teammates as each variable is incorporated creates an energy and flow. There is satisfaction in seeing a plan grow and materialize.

Thanks for taking time to read this blog.

You are appreciated!

Wishing all of you many adventures,
solutions to your challenges,
answers to your prayers,
& resources to help you survive
all of your collaborative projects!

(And... a good dose of ranting to release the stress once in a while)
Kindest Wishes,
~ Mary

Other networking opportunities:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/MamasMarketforMillenials

https://www.facebook.com/writermomadvocate/

This article features our special affiliate collaboration.

We invite you to look at their shop.

Here's the perfect opportunity to select a gift for someone you love.

I'm happy to help you if you require assistance.

Message me in the comments section.

Monday, May 24, 2021

Hey Monday! Here we are once again...

Please read disclaimer at the end of this article

Hey Monday! Here we are once again...

by: M.B.Varville-Rodriguez

This post sponsored by:

click on picture or logo for gift giving options

Save 10% with Code: Sister

Writer Mom Goals for the day...

M - Meditate for at least 5 minutes to help focus on the day

O - Observe what inspires you toward completion of a task

N - Negotiate the terms of your interactions with others

D - Decide on what you hope to accomplish this week

A - Advocate for yourself and for those who request your help

Y - You are appreciated and an important participant

in today's events.

Thanks for taking time to read

this blog.You are appreciated!

Wishing all of you many adventures,
solutions to your challenges,
answers to your prayers,
& resources to help you survive
all of your collaborative projects!

(And...a good dose of ranting to release the stress once in a while)
Kindest Wishes,
~ Mary

Other networking opportunities:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/MamasMarketforMillenials

https://www.facebook.com/writermomadvocate/