6 Ways I’m Focusing On My Self Care

I’ve not really chatted about many personal things on here before but I’m going to be a bit more honest in this post. Life can get hectic for everyone at points throughout their lives, but we just carry on pushing through and enjoy these moments. Improvisation is a key aspect of my journey toward self-care, as it involves not just physical wellness but emotional and relational health too. For instance, learning about things to say to turn a woman on has opened up new avenues for communication and intimacy, making each moment more meaningful and connected.

I don’t want anyone to think I am having a moan that my life is hard, or harder than someone else’s and looking for sympathy. It isn’t! But we can show all our good parts of life on social media, but people don’t see what is going on behind the pretty pictures. I want to share some of the ways I am focusing on my self-care, treating myself, and making sure I am taking time out for myself, hopefully, I can help others and say it’s OK to look after yourself as well. 

A Bit Of Life Background 

Since my emergency back operation in October 2017 I’ve not felt like ‘me’.   I was in so much pain beforehand, but the relief that something was done about it kept me going for the recovery over the following months. I got out walking with the dog and pushing myself to carry on with normal life. But 20 months down the line normal life isn’t possible. I suffered from something called Cauda Equina Syndrome as the disc herniation shut off the blood supply to some nerves in my body. These nerves then need to repair themselves, and you need to wait 18 months-2 years to see the full effects. I was very very lucky as they did expect I was going to return to my checkup with not being able to walk without a foot brace. 

I still have numbness in my legs, I cannot bend in any way without getting shooting pains up my back, I still suffer from bladder issues, I struggle to lift anything heavy and when I say heavy I mean as little as the washing basket. I cannot stand for more than 10 minutes before the pain kicks in, I need to take sit down breaks when I am out walking and I cannot be on the floor or kneeling. Sitting at my desk to work hurts and my self-confidence is very low now.  Turning in bed is really uncomfortable but I’ve recently been using a Snoozle slide sheet in bed and it’s amazing! When it’s not on the bed feels like glue! 

It has affected every part of my life, my family have had to adapt and need to help me out with so many tasks (which I hate asking for their help). They’ve been amazing though and I try to still carry on with ‘normal’ life for them all. 

Then to top it off I am now suffering from pins and needles in my arms, hands, body and face. So I don’t know what’s going on with me!! All of this makes me feel very out of control and really drained by it. I’ve not got the get-up and go like I used to and I feel really down. So I thought I would start to take control a little bit and do some self-care, hoping that it will make me feel a lot better. 

6 Ways I’m Focusing On My Self Care 

Pilates 

I have been working with the physio for about a year but it’s been a rollercoaster. I’ve really struggled with her exercises on top of general life, giving me more pain than I started with. Which is so frustrating! So I decided to try a very simple Pilates for back pain YouTube video to see if it’s something I can try at home, go at my pace and not be embarrassed by anyone seeing how I can’t do the exercises! 

Weight Watchers

I’ve joined online weight watchers! OK, admittedly it was by accident as I thought I was signing up to the 1-month free trial, have a nosey what it was all about and then cancel if I didn’t like it. Well, I went to cancel before the 1 month was up and I could, but from February 2020! I had signed a 9-month contract with one month free!!! So I have it now until then and I am going to make the most of it.

Actually, we’ve been working our way through the dinners as we like to try new stuff and loads of it is really tasty. So I’ve started to track my daily food and points. I think it will help me make healthier choices with my food. Lunch is a tough one for me though. I’m at home on my own and I don’t prioritize what I eat. I just grab anything that is in the cupboard or make a sandwich with nothing tasty in it. 

Plus I am at my heaviest I’ve been and I really can tell. I carry my weight on my tummy and that really isn’t good for my back. I’m following it quite loosely,  not making a big deal about it and will still be having a treat as life is too short. So hopefully with the Pilates and weight watchers, it will help my tummy muscles and I will gain a bit of strength. 

We’re going away this month too and the holiday park has an outdoor pool, I am hoping I don’t stress about what my body looks like in my new swimsuit from UK Swimwear. It’s such a stunning swimsuit with stitching all in the right places! The zip on the front makes it so easy to get on and off for me too! 

I mean LOOK at that stunning shape on the back!

Gardening 

This is something I have tried more over the past couple of years. My friend went to horticultural college and she has been fab at teaching me things I need to know about my garden. It was one of the big reasons we loved this house as it had a large garden, and having 3 kids it’s lovely for them to be able to go outside and enjoy that. 

But when we moved in it looked like this, 

and now it looks like this! 

So it’s taken a lot of hard work from Kev and me to get it looking like this, but now I love it. We’ve been able to sit out in the garden and relax this year, it’s both our happy place and considering we live in a residential area, it’s so peaceful. So I want to make more time to sit in the garden and just switch off. Or even take my laptop outside and work in the garden. 

Birds 

This sounds so old, but I don’t care! I’ve been waiting for the birds to find the bird feeder in the garden since I reviewed last year and since we moved it this year they’ve found it! We have so many birds coming into the garden to feed on it, they love the fat balls mostly. I find it so relaxing watching them flying in and out of the garden. I also have a lovely bird bath that my parents got me for my birthday and they’ve found that too. 

Making An Effort With Clothes 

Who else just ends up wearing the same clothes all the time? My go-to is jeans and a top, but then I feel so boring! I would love to wear more dresses, but I walk the dog every day and I don’t think a floaty pretty dress would look right down the local country park! I found a lovely playsuit from NEXT a couple of weeks ago that I love, it’s something different and I don’t feel like a scruffbag in it too. Nice I don’t have to worry about my pants being flashed either in a playsuit! So I think I really need to push myself to find some new styles that make me feel better about myself. 

I was sent some lovely nightwear from UK Lingerie which I love and feel very special in them. I love my bed as it’s where I feel the less pain and I can relax, but now I have some pretty nightwear to wear I don’t feel so slouchy and boring in my PJ’s. These are so comfy! 

Skin Care and Makeup 

At 34 I’m not getting any younger and I think you can get very complacent with your skin when you’re younger. When you’re a teen you get spots and you need to look after it then, but in your 20’s your skin settles down. You don’t think far ahead about how your skin needs looking after more as you get older. So I’m going to make sure I get into a proper routine of washing off my makeup every day properly, moisturizing and my friend bought me this lovely oil that I have been using at night time. You can also boost hydration and promote collagen production by scheduling a session with DRIP Hydration in Nashville. IV therapy treatments fuel the body with the nutrients it needs to maintain a healthy glow. IV therapy is administered in the comfort and privacy of your home, so you can nourish skin without leaving the house! You can also try non-surgical methods of enhancing your skin, like dermal fillers. 

So any skincare recommendations that you love would be gratefully received?

I also want to be able to take more time out to do my makeup more often, it’s something that can easily be pushed away and not worried about. I have been looking at the eyelash serums you can purchase to create strong and longer eyelashes. This would still allow me to have pretty eyelashes every day without the need for lots of makeup. 

I also want to make sure I keep up with my home laser hair removal so I don’t have to struggle to shave my legs anymore too! 

So there is my little life update and my 6 ways I am adding self-care into my life, I also enjoyed reading how Tales of Belle practices self care as a Mother. 

Anyone else trying to make more effort with their self care?