Have you ever seen Parks and Recreation Tom and Donna’s “Treat Yo Self” day? If not, here is a brief backstory: two work friends literally do whatever they want for an entire day (it’s a great show – I highly recommend). Massages, shopping, extravagant dinners and cake are always involved. This practice is high octane self-care! And I love it!
However, it is ONE day in the year.
What happens when the day after Treat Yo Self day you have ten meetings and 200 emails with a sick kid and car trouble?
We must find ways throughout the day to dissolve the stress that comes with living. Self-care can be mini escapes or just pause buttons to ground ourselves in the moment because that is really all we have is this one moment at a time.
When I am drowning in stress and overwhelmed, change is a comforting thought. I know it cannot remain this way.
When I am relaxing on the beach without access to email knowing this cannot last forever, I am grateful for the moment and I ground myself in it so I don’t miss out.
How do I accomplish this you might ask…one technique I use is Five for Five. For five minutes, I go through my five senses and observe each in the moment. Best case scenario I do this outside, however my work environment doesn’t always allow for this and I do not have a window so I work with the surroundings I have. It really is that simple.
What do I see? Maybe the clouds if I am lucky or the sun shining bright. In my office, I see pictures of my daughters, flowers and a rainbow of colors.
What do I hear? In my office, I hear a white noise machine that sounds like ocean waves. Maybe I walk outside and hear a bird chirping.
What do I taste? In the morning, probably coffee with vanilla creamer or in between sessions wintergreen gum.
What do I smell? Most of the time my office has lavender floating around. Outside I might smell the fresh, brisk winter air or even the smell of rain rolling in.
What do I feel? How does that earth feel under my feet (this is when I usually question my shoe choice for the day)? Maybe chilly during the winter months or a flushed face after a tough meeting or session. I can also feel excited after good news or frustrated when things don’t go my way.
Going through this process puts me in this exact moment. I cannot time travel to the past or “what-if” myself into the future if I am focused on this moment and my senses.
That is the pause button that allows me time to breathe. That is self-care. That is grounding. That is dissolving the stress enough to take on what’s next. That is a practice I can do ten times a day if needed. Even though “Treat Yo Self” day is WONDERFUL, I also need to ground myself every day and maybe multiple times in a morning. Don’t stop Treating Yo Self, just start Grounding Yo Self too! Take 5 for 5 and give it a whirl.