Self-care day

The modern-day of today is hugely stressful. Often is expected too much of people in jobs, family life and friendship but what we do need is to take more self-care days. This can consist of anything from reading a book, pamper day, a walk or a chat with your friends. Although it is easy to suggest it is quite difficult to do. Things get in the way of our life, we feel low and sometimes just can't be bothered. We get into the bad habit of putting things off or procrastinating.

The other day, in fact, I really wanted to go on a nice walk to not only get my daily steps in but to relax me and make me feel good. However, when I went to go out I found that I got scared and panicked about going. Now, this doesn't happen all the time, but when it does it makes me feel really bad because I know I want to go but I can't bring myself to do it. My anxiety literally shoots up and it stops me dead in my tracks. Now I could of just mopped around all day and hide which in turn would make it worse next time, instead I messaged a friend and told her my issue. They reminded me that it's ok to feel this way and that if needs be they can phone me while I walk so I felt less anxious. It worked I cannot thank her enough for giving me that little bit of confidence to get out but have her 'by my side' at that moment. 

Thinking about it, when I do go on my walks it makes me feel incredible. It's suggested that after the first 10 minutes of walking it boosts your mood and has a positive outcome on your mindset. My favourite place in the world is being anywhere by the sea and just sitting on the rocks and hearing the sea swish by. It's the most soothing thing in the world for me. Although this is true I hardly ever do this. It's hard for me because I can't bring myself to go out sometimes on my own. It's really difficult, I could psych myself up for going but never actually leave the house because I have that fear in the back of my mind. I can't quite explain what it is but it's always there. 

What I'm trying to get across is even though we do have these struggles it's important to give yourself a break and do something that you enjoy doing and I don't mean lying on the sofa watching TV because although you may like doing it, it's not practical or helping you in any way. Go for that walk, spend some time in the garden, put that face mask on. Just do it, sometimes you feel better just by making yourself do something you don't particularly feel like you can do at that moment but will make you feel so much better after just like I myself experience in the mornings when I do my exercises. Even just getting advice from a friend, that little support can go a long way.