Self-Care

(Full article here, Self-Care and Self-Help Following Traumatic Events)

There are many ways to restore lifestyle balance, and keeping track of and making progress with as many of the following changes is a good way to regain balance after having been exposed to or witnessed cumulative traumatic experiences:

Physical Self-Care

• Eat regularly (e.g. breakfast, lunch, dinner)
• Eat healthily
• Exercise
• Get regular medical care for prevention
• Get regular medical care when needed '
• Take time off when sick
• Get massages
• Dance, swim, walk, run, play sports, sing, or do some other physical activity that is fun
• Take time to be sexual--with yourself, with a partner
• Get enough sleep
• Wear clothes you like
• Take vacations
• Take day trips or mini-vacations
• Make time away from telephones

Psychological Self-Care

Make time for self-reflection

Have your own personal psychotherapy

Write in a journal

Read literature that is unrelated to work

Do something at which you are not expert or in charge

Decrease stress in your life

Notice your inner experiences -- listen to your thoughts, judgments, beliefs, attitudes, and feelings

Let others know different aspects of you

Engage your intelligence in a new area, e.g., go to an art museum, history exhibit, sports event, auction, theater performance

Practice receiving from others

Be curious

Say no to extra responsibilities sometimes

Emotional Self-Care

• Spend time with others whose company you enjoy
• Stay in contact with important people in your life
• Give yourself affirmations, praise yourself
• Find ways to increase your sense of self-esteem
• Reread favorite books, re-view favorite movies
• Identify comforting activities, objects, people, relationships, places, and seek them out
• Allow yourself to cry
• Find things to make you laugh
• Express your outrage in social action, letters, donations, marches, protests
• Play with children
  

Spiritual Self-Care

• Make time for reflection
• Spend time with nature
• Find a spiritual connection or community
• Be open to inspiration
• Cherish your optimism and hope
• Be aware of nonmaterial aspects of life
• Try at times not to be in charge or the expert
• Be open to not knowing
• Identify what is meaningful to you and notice its place in your life
• Meditate
• Pray
• Sing
• Spend time with children
• Have experiences of awe
• Contribute to causes in which you believe
• Read inspirational literature (talks, music, etc.)