We are entering what I have coined, “A Season of Self-Care” here at Friends School Mullica Hill. Self-care should be practiced regularly but I thought it would be helpful to make it a focus as we continue through fall and into the busy holiday season. The goal of this initiative is to have students, staff and parents recognize the need for self-care and self-compassion and to focus more (even if only a little more) attention on it. Some suggestions for self-care include the following from Dr. Kristin Neff, author of Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself (2011):Mindfulness
Responding to yourself with kindness
Recognizing our common humanity
Ways to practice these suggestions can include:
Being truly present – put down your phones, put away your laptops and be present in the moment.
Enjoying hobbies and interests and allowing time to focus on them
Eating more healthy – slowing down and enjoying your meals
Prioritize sleep
Find opportunities to laugh each day
Allow for movement – this can be exercise or simply dancing around the kitchen
Read
Spend time in nature
Allow yourself to feel all emotions
Be on the lookout for more information about our Season of Self-Care!
“Neither is self-compassion a recipe for laziness (another common misperception), for instead, self-compassionate people are demonstrably more productive than those who are self-critical. Neither is self-compassion selfish or narcissistic, for when people begin to treat themselves kindly, they actually become less self-focused in their daily lives and find they have more energy to attend to others.” Quote from article “Self-Compassion and Quakers” ~See link below
– T. Kelly
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