Quiet the Mind, by Making Time for You

For a lot of us, anxiety is one of those things in life that almost seems impossible to avoid. Life is made up of so many moving parts that it can be quite easy to feel overwhelmed and therefore anxious with all of its tasks. But there is one thing that may help us tackle the obstacles ahead while keeping our anxious thoughts and feelings at bay; self care. Self care can consist of a wide variety of approaches and activities that one does in order to maintain health, prevent disease, and or cope with various ailments or unwanted feelings or thoughts¹. How one participates in the activities of self care can look different given our individual uniqueness. For one, self care may be eating certain foods that make them feel good or sharing a special meal with loved ones. Others might observe certain spiritual beliefs, participate in quiet time, exercise, or even ensure that they keep up with their medical appointments on a regular basis. Nonetheless, whenever we are able to take the time to show more care to our bodies, whether it be physically, mentally, or spiritually, we are giving our mind permission to take some time to worry less. 

By implementing self care in our lives, not only do we give our bodies the permission to rest and relax, but self care also shows our minds that there can be good and positive things surrounding us if we only take the time to make room for them. Regular self care may force one to slow down and to be mindful of the little things, and overtime, it may begin to create a place of peace in one’s life. This place of peace could be just what one needs to reveal what’s causing the mind to be anxious in the first place. So the next time that you find yourself in a place of anxiety or uneasiness, ask yourself, “when was the last time I took time for me?” Maybe it’s time to take a small moment to engage in something that gives you peace, something that quiets your mind, something simply for you.