As we wind down our month long dive into self-care, one last nuance for ya.
Use ALL of your senses as an entryway to self-care.
Your body is powerful. Use it as an ally in your journey towards self-care.
When I first became a coach, a dear friend sent me a beautiful yet simple gift. It was a room diffuser, etched with the logo of my company name. (Yes I started out as GuidingClarity.com, now embracing more of myself as DrPenelopeHsu.com lol) He sent it along with one of my favorite scents, the classic Cucumber Melon from Bath and Body Works. Every time I use it, I feel waves of nostalgia from my youth, energy from the scent itself (it is just so refreshing), and the love of my friend. It’s a quick, budget-friendly way to treat myself when I need a boost.
How to use ALL your senses as self-care
All of our senses are so finely tuned to give us immediate information and feedback about the world around us. So let’s actively give our vision, taste, touch, hearing, and smell good things to focus on to brighten our day.
I advise clients to populate the walls of their office or cubbie with photos that will liven up the space. I’ve actually had a few physician clients actually just print out jumbo smiley-face emojis and stick them in patient rooms! Other clients have brought plants to the office, as a visual and tactile reminder of the vitality and life that exists, in and outside of work.
Other ways to use your senses to help you throughout the day:
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Have a few pieces of your favorite snack (for me, it’s always some version of dark chocolate) tucked away for a rainy day when you need a pick me up
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Change your ring-tone to a favorite song (mine is currently Golden by Huntrix, don’t judge me)
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Carry a small memento in your pocket or on your person (this is why you will always see me wearing some of my grandma’s jewelry) that reminds you of a happy memory or is just fun to have with you.
Have fun creating your own Self-Care toolkit
Hopefully I’ve given you a few ideas on how to build some simple self-care into your life. Please share these ideas with those around you. And if you want personalized help in curating your own bespoke Self-Care/Stress Management toolkit, I’m always here for that.
Take care!!
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