lifestyles
Soul Positive
Life
Dr. Melissa
Bahamonde
By Dr. Melissa Bahamonde, Ph.D. of Soul Positive Life
The concept of self-care has evolved from the literal definition of
taking care of your physical and mental needs (like bathing and sleeping)
to a hashtag or a tagline for pedicure photos on Instagram. It may
have you asking, “What is self-care anyway?” You may also be asking
yourself “How can I afford self-care?” That is, judging from Facebook,
Instagram or reality television, self-care is spa days, yoga retreats,
facials and beauty treatments. I know that I have asked myself these
questions many times on my two- and a half-year journey of practicing
extreme self-care.
Prior to my self-care journey, I was all about the hustle. Between
my job as a psychologist, role as a mother of a young child, wife and
friend, I was overwhelmed and exhausted. When people talked about
self-care, I am sure I rolled my eyes and thought something like, “Ain’t
nobody got time for that,” and went along with my hectic days and
nights. After surgery complications and subsequent three month-long
treatments in wound-care, I found myself in a therapist office trying to
process what I just went through before returning back to a stressful
work environment and a demanding job. My therapist looked at me
and said, “you desperately need self-care.”
Initially, my reaction was to scoff at her recommendations, but then
I realized the truth. I did need self-care and I had no idea where to start.
The therapist recommended the Art of Extreme Self-Care, by Cheryl
Richardson. This book contains information about developing self-care
habits and routines, rather than seeking expensive spa treatments and
manicure/pedicures.
Practicing extreme self-care is more about learning how to take
care of yourself and setting boundaries with others to achieve that level
of care. Therefore, practicing self-care is a way of approaching life every
day with the intent to preserve your energy and recharge yourself.
This philosophy guides my recommendations about affordable ways to
practice self-care.
First and foremost, start with ensuring that your physiological
needs are addressed to see immediate results. I recommend starting
with eight hours of sleep, drinking eight glasses of water a day and
eating three to five servings of fruits and vegetables. If you are rolling
your eyes right now, I see you! The reality is, most of us aren’t even able
to achieve these daily habits and it is a wonderful place to start. Next,
research shows that humans greatly benefit from spending 120 minutes
a week in nature, even if these minutes are spread out throughout the
week. This is a wonderful opportunity to explore walking trails in your
neighborhood, community parks, and state parks. Research also supports
the benefits of 20 minutes of daily exercise which can come from
walking your dog, stretching and practicing yoga, going for a run, or
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10 • JANUARY 2020 813.682.9364 FLORIDA WOMEN MAGAZINE