Self-Care: What works for us

We asked, you answered! 

Threads of Life’s Volunteer Family Guides (VFGs) provide peer support to others who are coping with the effects of workplace tragedy. Every guide goes through intensive training for their volunteer role. They learn how to draw on their own life story to help another along their journey of healing. And they learn the importance of self-care – both for themselves as volunteers, and for the families they’re supporting. Here, our VFGs offer a grab bag of self-care ideas from their own tool kits:

• Driving – fill up gas tank and drive for hours with no particular destination. Turn up music or put in an audio book and drive. Helps to unravel thoughts and give a feeling that I am driving away from stress for a few hours.
• Mindfulness
• Meditation
• Reading
• Yoga
• Journaling – good to get the feelings out
• Running
• Music
• Coffee with friends
• Gardening / yard work
• Family time
• Bubble bath – relaxes muscles, relaxes mind
• Spend time with grandkids
• Read a “fluff” novel. Escape in reading to take mind off of other matters
• Night out with friends
• Colour on iPad or paper
• Journal
• Letter or card writing to friends
• Scratch writing – way to get rid of pent up feelings. Write then shred. 
• Glass of wine
• Watch a funny movie
• Go for a walk
• 54321 exercise if really feeling overwhelmed 
• Go for a massage
• Crossword puzzles
• Play board games
• Singing
• Go to church
• Nap
• Aqua fit
• Play sports
• Social time with friends
• Dance classes
• Walking the dog
• Deep breathing
• Be by yourself
• Reconnect with old friends
• Spend time outdoors
• Take time to do your hobbies
• Phone a friend – when living alone sometimes you just want to talk to someone
• Zentangle – makes you stop thinking and just “do”
• Crafts

As you can see, the list is wide and varied! When it comes to self-care, what’s important is to keep trying new things until you find the right mix that works for you.