Life is filled with choices. How you choose to care for yourself will make a significant difference in your ability to give to others, and to find Joy in your own life. Choose to care for yourself! Choose to find Joy! And then, watch what God can do!
1) Give yourself permission to care for you!
As caregivers, playing our difficult God-given supporting roles, taking care of ourselves is often the last thing on our mind. But choosing to care for our own physical, emotional and spiritual needs is necessary if God is going to effectively use us to meet the needs of others.
2) Make a “Joy List.”
Write down all the things you enjoy doing that nurture your health, emotional well-being, and spiritual growth. Do at least one per week!
3) Make time for you.
Commit dedicated time for the things you just wrote on your Joy List. Schedule them on your calendar!
4) Give yourself the gift of rest!
Remember that your greatest need is for Christ, who strengthens you in every way. Take time to refresh yourself ~ body, mind and spirit. Choose to spend time to resting with God!
5) Make time for FUN.
We all give so much of ourselves in support of others. We have stress filled lives. We need a break! God wants us to find joy, and one way to do that is to intentionally have fun!
6) Laugh ~ it is wonderful medicine!
- Laughter relaxes the whole body. A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes.
- Laughter boosts the immune system.Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.
- Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.
- Laughter protects the heart.Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems. (http://www.helpguide.org/life/humor_laughter_health.htm )
7) Take a break ~ enjoy time with friends.
Find something you enjoy doing and share it with friends. Go out for coffee or dinner or even just an afternoon of shopping. Go to the park. Go bicycling. Fun and friendship make a great team!
8) Find a hobby or interest to take you away.
Are you one of those people who find it hard to answer the question, “What are your hobbies?” I was. For a long time I didn’t have anything that I loved to do just for fun. And to be honest, I didn’t allow myself the luxury of time to do anything but work and support my family. But I finally found my great escape. I love to read, and a good novel takes me to a whole different world for a while. We all need to find a way to relax and get away occasionally from the stress of our supporting roles. Choose to find yours!
An excerpt from
Joy on Purpose ~ Reclaiming God’s Gift of Joy
Featuring 50 Ways for Support Givers to Find Joy
