Self-Care
Self-care is an aspect of my life I have neglected, especially over the last couple of years of my transition out of homelessness. Recently, I had to admit to myself that I was suffering from my own neglect. Now that I’m on safe ground in an apartment, I’ve gotten to decompress. I read articles and ebooks I’ve had on my computer for years. I see now, that for me to heal in a lasting way that ensures homelessness never happened again; I need to build self-care into my life forever.
This is the first in a series of posts on the topic of caring for oneself physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. I think it’s a universal topic.
One thing I learned through all this? There are some basic tools I need, that we all need, to be able to take action, to find help when needed. Here are just a few:
- Method For People To Reach You: The glorious aspect of having access to the Springwire program Community Voice Mail, is that I have a reliable way to be in contact, my very own local phone number. I never have to feel embarrassed to leave a message. When people call me back my voice mail has my own voice on my message! When I had little else, my voice mail gave me a sense of having something of my own.
- Access To Computers: I use my computer for everything. It’s how I make a living. It’s my access to email. I use Gmail through Google. With Google I can use their online calendar/planner. It’s never lost or stolen because it’s stored on the Internet. I even use a setting that emails me to remind me when I have an appointment. Some people prefer a hard copy, and so I sometimes print my appointments.
- A journal: I’m ‘old-school’. I’d much rather write down my thoughts in a notebook. I got mine from donated school supplies at a nonprofit. Now my binder is my household-lifestyle binder. I keep a pouch that contains my bills. I use it to keep tabs on jobs I’m applying for, personal thoughts, ideas, etc.
With these three tools, I feel like I have the basics to stay organized, stay connected, think, dream, and plan for the future. And I am using these tools to reconnect with and take care of myself. What are the tools you use to take care of yourself?
Terrah
Springwire Guest Blogger
