Self-Care for Dinosaurs

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Just because you're a dinosaur, doesn't mean you shouldn't take care of yourself. 

In order to be the best dinosaur you can be, you must take care of yourself. Taking care of yourself isn't selfish or self-centered. 

Self-care is necessary.

 Do you remember airline safety instructions? Back we left the house and occasionally actually went somewhere, they say in the event of a drop in cabin pressure oxygen masks will drop out of the overhead compartment. You must secure your own mask before helping others. 

This is because you can help them if you have oxygen but neither of you will have oxygen if you try to help them first. 

Well, my dino-friends. Self-care is the same. You have to refill your own capacity to give in order to be able to give to others. If your bucket is empty, you've got nothing left to give. 

Here are some dino-friendly ideas for self-care.

Get Fancy. 

(Fancy clothes by A) 

Wear clothes that make you feel good, even if you're not going anywhere! You're the one who spends the most time with yourself, so why not feel good about it? 

Take the time to appreciate something beautiful.

(Bonus points if it smells good.) 

There are so many simple, beautiful, and incredible things around us all the time. If you look for them, you will find them. 

Be thankful for comfortable shoes.

While everyone's life may have hard places, be thankful for the simple things that are going well in your life. Do you have a bed to sleep in? Are you safe at home? Do you still have a job? Do you have comfortable shoes? 

There is so much to be grateful for. 

Spend some time relaxing outside.

(Even if you can't get to the beach.)

There are a lot of big emotions flying around these days. There's room for all of them in the great outdoors. Chill on a patio, relax on a porch, take a walk, chill on an upside-down pan under an awesome canopy, ya know. (I have no idea who made this one, C or A, I found it outside unattended.) 

Grow and harvest some of your own food.

(Basket by C, tomatoes are volunteers from last year's volunteers) 

You don't have to have a "green thumb" to grow some of your own food. A $2.00 pot of chives or parsley on a sunny window sill totally counts. I find there's something comforting on a very basic level to cultivate a living thing that adds to the vitality and nutrition of our lives. 

Keep your mind sharp and try a new hobby.

You don't have to be awesome at it. You don't even have to show anyone. But, if you ever want to do things, you have to start where you are. Make crummy stuff! 

Laugh and have a chat with a friend.

A good laugh and a good chat are sometimes just what a dino needs. 

What are your favorite ways to take care of yourself these days? 

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