Category: Stress Management

How to make time for Self-care

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So you want to make Self-care a habit for 2019?

This is a toughy.

Especially for women. Especially when we’re knee deep in busy-ness. Which I know you’re gonna say – is all. The. Time. I hear you.

I get busy-ness. I really do. So I make sure I sneak in Self-care regularly – and it only takes 15 seconds, so I do it multiple times per day…check out the video to see how!

https://youtu.be/PianrrYEaPc

No time for Self-care?

Let’s do something about this. We can’t afford to wait until things settle down to get Self-care in.

Our Problem

We think Self-care has to be some huge ordeal: 1 hour of yoga class, or 1 hour at the gym or a 1-hour mani-pedi.

All Self-care yes, and all amazing and well-deserved.

But since when does Self-care have a time limit? When did it become another thing to put on your never-ending checklist?

My Definition of Self-care

Self-care is anything you do that makes you feel like your Self again.

So find out what that is. And do it. Daily if at all possible.

And if you don’t know where to start. Consider my daily Self-care go-to: abdominal breathing which you can learn right here in this video.

Until next week – take good care of your Self,

Dr. Odette

Summer Self-care: My Afternoon Energy Boost!

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I’ve been loving the heat of summer in Toronto lately. But it can make the afternoon dip in energy that typically happens for many of us between 3-4pm even more unbearable.

 

My 10-minute pick-me-up helped give me the quick boost in energy I needed – and enjoy some fresh air so my mind is clear & refreshed for the rest of my clinic day.

 

https://youtu.be/DkxJUa6uT2I

 

Tips for your own 10-minute energy boost:

  • Set your phone timer for 5 minutes. Walk as far as you can until it beeps. Then turn around and walk back to your office. This will make sure you only walk for the time you have for your break. If you have a longer break, definitely feel free to go for longer!
  • If you have a pedometer, Fitbit or smartphone step counter (I use Samsung Health on my phone), check in with your step count before and after you walk to see how far you go. Try to beat your step count every day – you will definitely get faster!
  • Bring your shades, a hat (and make sure you put on a good sunscreen!)
  • Hydrate when you return to your workspace.

 

I hope you get to try this out a few times until next week’s summer Self-care tip.

 

Take good care of your Self until then!

 

 

Wanna make sure you don’t miss any Self-care videos? 

Click the button below to join Dr. Odette’s FREE Self-care Warrior e-mail list and you’ll receive her Self-care videos, articles, and inspiration right in your inbox! 

 

YES! I’m ready to take care of my Self!

 

Summer Self-care: Take a Breath!

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Do you feel even busier this summer going from work to your kids’ activities to social events that you hardly have time to catch your breath?

 

If you said YES (please help me!) and are surprised you feel like the summer is flying by, then you need to watch this video for a super-quick Summer Self-care video tip.

 

https://youtu.be/2jsVYuhddfA

 

It’ll help you make a little calm in the sometimes-crazy of summer. Don’t get me wrong – it’s a wonderful crazy, and there are worse things than being busy BUT if we don’t take the time to slow down a bit, we run the risk of being overwhelmed by the busy-ness of summer instead of being able to enjoy. Every. Moment. We. Have.

 

If you need more of a refresher for abdominal breathing check out this video here. And remember, this breathing technique is AMAZING for shutting off the stress response and turning on your relaxation response.

 

And YES, you can get stressed out over the summer, just from the sheer packed schedules I know so many of you have! (Trust me – I’ve felt it too!)

 

So don’t be afraid to slow down, roll down your windows and take a breath. You’ll feel totally refreshed and ready to be present for all of the wonderful memories you’ll be making this summer.

 

See you next week for our 3rd Summer Self-care video.

 

Take good care of your Self until then!

 

 

Wanna become a Self-care warrior? 

Click the button below to join Dr. Odette’s FREE Self-care Warrior e-mail list and you’ll receive her Self-care videos, articles, and inspiration right in your inbox! 

 

YES! I’m ready to take care of my Self!