I was recently turned on to a TV series I had not yet seen. What do you think happened next? Yep, I went into binge watching mode. There is just something about getting caught up to the current episode and getting caught up by the series itself.
Something happened over those days, when I filled the spare moments and down time with watching. It seemed to take over more that just my spare time. Oh, I was having a great time in the play arena, and isn’t that an important part of self-care and work/life balance?
As I did this I started letting go of something else, my morning quiet times, when I get refreshed spiritually. I thought I’d get all caught up and then go back to normal but I realized that this was one of those times of forming habits and that I needed to put things back into balance.
This is the fourth and final post in the self-care series, so let’s flesh this idea out a little.
Spiritual self-care is maintenance on the part of us that connects us to our higher self.
Let’s have a closer look at the points I listed in the original post.
Go for a walk in nature or sit in your garden and admire the flowers and plants.
To tell you the truth this is one of my favorite ways of relaxing, because I love plants. I find being in a beautiful garden to be refreshing. There is something soothing to the eyes and the mind about looking at the beauty of nature. It somehow reconnects us to source. The same source that drives nature in all it’s abundance.
Here are a few tips for getting you started right where you live, even if you life in a city.
- Start a small container garden on your windowsill or balcony, if you live in an apartment.
- Find a recreational park or botanical garden near were you live.
- Visit a local flower shop and enjoy all the aromas and colors.
- Add some flowers or other border plants to your yard if you only have a lawn.
- Go for a walk in your neighborhood and enjoy the creativity on the yards you pass by.
Check out my gardens Pintrest board for ideas or even just to relax and enjoy the pictures.
Follow Abe Stone’s board I love gardens on Pinterest.
Practice meditation.
I have a very active mind so I will admit I find this one to be a little more challenging but I’m happy that I’ve learned how to quite my mind enough to mediate and benefit from this connection to spirit.
One of the techniques that I’ve found helpful is the Silva Method. It’s a very practical approach with some interesting science behind it.
Brendon Burchard put together an introduction you might find helpful.
Take time for reflective thinking on a daily basis. This is good for the mind but it is especially helpful in allowing your spiritual side or your subconscious to connect with you.
What I’m talking about here is not the constant business of the mind and whatever pops into it as you rush through your day or get through your work. This is about stopping to take time to pay attention to the thoughts, observe them, and allow the subconscious to come to the for.
This can be done as guided thinking where you have a topic you want to find answers to or unguided. What is important here is to take time to really let things flow without judgement or labeling. (Read The Magic of Thinking Big)
Sit still and listen to music that inspires, uplifts, or relaxes you.
In this age of internet there are some great apps out there, which make it easy to access all genres of music for free. Here are a few to get you started. I’m not affiliated with any of them.
- Songza Click to view their list of music without lyrics.
- Spotify this one has a great social experience integrated where you can share what you listen to with friends.
- Pandora I’ve enjoyed the randomness of this one.
Get involved in something creative: write, paint, or create art in some form.
Read a spiritually insightful book.
While some books are clearly more focused on spiritual matters, within the fiction, nonfiction, and even biography genres there can be many books that get your thinking and connecting to that side of you. I would suggest choosing a book that interests you. I believe there is something special about reading since it quiEts us down and gets us using our faculties in a different way.
Some I’ve read and recommend are:
