Category: Self-Care

Play, Self-Care, Spiritual

The Self-Care R’s of Human Hibernation

Renee

We don’t need the New Year as an excuse to change habits, resolutions are so outdated, especially when we change our habits & goals throughout the year to fit our needs & growth.

Being that January is in mid-winter, try this instead:

        “The Self-Care R’s of Human Hibernation“

Rest, Relaxation, Reflection, Recharge, Rebalance, Renew, & Rejuvenation.

Take time to not make any major plans or activities for the month, if you can, or just the bare minimum. (If you can’t this month, pick another month out of the year. It doesn’t necessarily have to be in January, it’s just a suggestion.) Vacation time is usually the perfect time. Even just for a week or two.

● Rest & Relax your whole being. I’m sure we all still have work and families to take care of, but in the evenings put off anything that is not of importance and just rest and relax into the evenings with a cup of tea, (or drink of your choice,) and a good read, mindful coloring, or a small, relaxing hobby.

● Do some inner Reflection, get in touch with your higher self, meditate, and/or journal. Maybe even write a poem or short story. Take a walk by yourself in nature, sit in nature, get inspired.

● While in nature (unplugged from all electronics) walk barefoot, do some earthing/grounding, to Recharge, Rebalance & Renew your heart, spirit, mind, and soul. (You can read about this more in my post on being barefoot)

● Rejuvenate your body, mind, and spirit. Get in touch with your inner child. Explore and play with your mind: pick up a new hobby, or an old one that you’ve pushed aside, even a childhood one. Play with your body: take Epsom salt baths, add some essential oils, do some Yoga, Pilates, dance, or other form of exercise. Try something new like Reiki or Chakra healing. Give into yourself and allow the sensual touch, not sexual, sensual. (If you want it to be sexual, by all means, go for it! There’s nothing wrong with a little self-pleasure. Orgasms do relieve stress.) Caress different parts of your body, face, arms, legs, to add to your relaxation, or even massage, like your neck or feet. Add that romance for yourself, it doesn’t always have to be with a partner. Dim or turn of lights and use candles, curtain or twinkle lights, incense or an essential oil diffuser, add some Hygge to your environment. Listen to some light jazz, binaural beats, or ambient music. Music is very beneficial for healing and self-care.

Your soul will thank you.

You may even pick up a new habit or rhythm that you will carry on daily, weekly, or monthly.

And always remember, self-care is good for our health and well-being. It’s important, emotionally, mentally, physically, sensually, and spiritually. We have to care for ourselves before we can care for others. There’s no use in trying to from an empty vessel.

Children's Play, Connection, Early Childhood, Education, Life, Mindfulness, Philosophy, Play, Poetry, Self-Care, Spiritual

A World Without Play?

Renee

What would it be like in a world without play?

Wouldn’t it be boring, dull, dark, and gray?

What would we see when we looked around?

No shapes, patterns, nor colors would be found?

There wouldn’t be any grief or any sorrow.

There wouldn’t be any hope for tomorrow.

No hobbies, no interests, there’d be no joy.

No games or toys, for adults, girls and boys.

No curiosity or wonder, no where to wander.

There wouldn’t be anything for us to ponder.

No creativity and no imagination.

No inventions, nor great explorations.

No books to read or stories to write.

Would we even have both day and night?

In a world without play, what would happen to all of creation?

Wouldn’t we lose all of our sensation?

Wouldn’t we lose all of our emotions?

And what would happen to all of Earth’s oceans?

What would happen to all creatures, both big and small?

Wouldn’t all of nature just crumble and fall?

Would we be able to see, hear, taste, smell, and feel?

How would we know what could or could not be real?

We would have no knowing, no intuition.

No sense of belonging, no connection, or even religion.

No beliefs, philosophy, or any spirituality.

We wouldn’t even have any sexuality.

We would not be fully conscious,

Have no awareness to fully process.

What would happen inside of our brain?

Wouldn’t we all just go insane?

Howard Gardner, Mildred Parton and B.F. Skinner,

Erick and Joan Erickson, and Bronfenbrenner,

John Dewey, Vygotsky, and Jean Piaget,

What would they all have to say?

“The Father of Kindergarten,” Friedrich Froebel,

Most likely would say that we live in Hell.

Malaguzzi, Gerber, Steiner, and Montessori,

What would happen to all of their theories?

Has anyone read or listened to Dr. Peter Gray?

What would he think of a world without play?

Or what about Einstein, Freud, or Carl Jung,

Doctors Stuart Brown, Walter Drew, or Sir Kenneth Robinson?

Without any of these many theories,

Where would they, or all of us be?

Would there even be any education?

Would we have any communication?

Play isn’t measured on standardized tests,

But play is how we all learn the best.

In a world without play, there’d be no careers.

From physicians, lawyers, construction, and all engineers,

To teachers and healers, artists and musicians,

Even military, government, good and bad politicians.

We need to shout it out loud, for all to hear.

“Play is nothing that we need to fear.”

Millions have talked and wrote about play.

It’s not something that will just go away.

From doctors, professors, and scholars,

To many theorists and philosophers,

Even spiritual leaders, mystics, and seers.

There are so many play pioneers.

Our children are here to remind,

That play can be so easy to find.

Look within and let out your inner child

To find strength, calm, and your wild.

Play is structured in our DNA.

It’s innate, it’s natural, for us to play.

It’s part of our spiritual and human design.

To move, dance, love, and to explore our mind.

It is definitely time to shift the play paradigm.

Play is the revolution.

Play is part of the solution.

Play is part of our evolution.

In play, we find our purpose, passion, our role.

That is our meaning, that is our goal.

It’s not possible to have a world without play.

This is what drives us each day.

Play is for all of us, from birth to old age.

We need play in order to survive.

We need it in order to thrive.

Play is what helps us all feel alive.

Play is for learning, our health and well-being.

Play is what gives our lives full of meaning.

So, you see, play is something that we cannot resist.

Because, in a world without play we wouldn’t exist…

Early Childhood, Life, Self-Care

When We Heal Ourselves We React and Respond Better

Renee

This is something I’m sure we’re all working on. There’s always something that might trigger an emotion or feeling from past experiences, even back from our childhood, whether we realize it or not. Then sometimes we react in not so good ways.

Something that another person does, or a child might do, even an event, or certain situation might trigger something that may have happened in our past that we may not be aware of until it happens. Is it a fear? Is it from a past trauma, as little as it may be?

Our reactions can tell a lot about us. When we can do some inner child work and heal from those past experiences we’re able stop for a minute and ask ourselves some questions before reacting and responding.

I like to call this the 4 R’s: Recognize, Reflect, React & Respond. Recognize the trigger, Reflect on what may help, then React and Respond better.

*What is this person, or child, doing that is triggering this in me?

*Why is this behavior triggering me?

*What past behaviors in others may have caused this trigger?

*What about this situation, or event, is triggering this in me?

*Why is this triggering me?

*What past experience may have caused this trigger?

What other questions could you ask yourself?

When we can recognize and reflect on our reactions we heal, react, and respond better. Healing our inner child is a form of self-care.

Education, Self-Care

Teacher Self-Care – It’s the Simple Stuff – For Our Health & Well-being

Renee

If we’re not taking care of ourselves, how can we help take care of others? Take care of our students, especially the young? And even our own family?

It was about 10 yrs. ago, when I was working at a center where the owner just decided to close up on 3 day’s notice. All staff & parents came in on a Thurs. to a sign posted on the front building stating “Friday will be the last day. We are closing.” There were so many emotions those two days from parents and staff. I was looking for any kind of work the following week. I had some doubts and was also feeling a little burnt out. Everywhere I went didn’t seem to be hiring, but low and behold, a previous employer was and rehired me. That’s when I knew what field I’m definitely meant to be in and that’s when I slowly started changing some of my routines and habits. Self-Care is on my “top priorities list.”

I have done all of these on the list in the past, plus a few others. Some I don’t do as much or at all because of family changes & routines. Some stuck and some became part of my daily rhythm.

Staying Hydrated, Eating, & Drinking Healthy

I’m sure most of us are water drinkers and pretty healthy eaters. This is most important, especially in this time. Drinking warm lemon water when you first wake up is a great kickstarter. There are many health benefits to do doing this, especially now, one boosting your immunity. Kombucha and probiotic drinks do this, as well. Making your own fruit infused water. (I have many different mixes posted on my Instagram.) There’s no shortage of any fruit in the stores. These are all good for our ECE’s that are in centers that are still open. If you take echinacea & vitamin C tablets, like I do from Nov. to March, keep taking them. For eating healthy, you can check out my Mindful Eating blog for a few tips that I wrote back between the holidays before all this mess. I’m a tea drinker, as well, herbal, green, just about any.

Get Enough Sleep

We all know this.

Yoga, Meditation, Mindfulness

I’m sure we’ve all started some of this in some form or fashion. Sometimes I’ll nap or meditate, listening to binaural beats on my break, since I usually eat with the kids. I’ll do simple Yoga poses throughout the day with the kids, then I also have a 5-10 min. routine at home at night before going to bed. Simply taking a minute or 2, or 5, to “just breathe” when you need to throughout the day will help tremendously. Whether on your break or with the kids, just go outside and look up at the clouds. When you’re home at night, just look up into the night sky.

Connect with nature and you will connect with yourself.

Just get outside, go for a walk, a bike ride, enjoy the sunshine, a cloudy day, even the rain.

Journal

Or just write something a thought, a poem, a story, anything. If you’re at home, maybe get your children into this. This could become a family group project.

Get Creative and/or Pick up a New Hobby

This is pretty self explanatory. Every Self-Care blog has this one. This is great for all those that have to stay home. Listen to your favorite music, as well. Sing, dance, & play!

Pamper Yourself

With all the salons closed, it’s time to do it yourself. Color your hair, give yourself a pedicure, manicure, & facial. Take an Epsom salt bath, this is a great end of the week stress relief, and add some essential oils. Use an oil diffuser & mix find or mix your own blends. Or light some insence. Then follow it with a glass of wine, or your choice of alcohol, or other beverage. You deserve it.

I leave you with this that I just came across today
Mindfulness and Purpose for ECE’S. 😁

Happy Social Distancing, Be Safe, and Stay Healthy

💖Renée