In our busy culture, I find that it is often hard to identify what we enjoy doing for fun, or self-care. I ask clients regularly what they enjoy doing for fun or self-care. You would think that I asked them how to save the planet! I get blank stares, shrugged shoulders, and “I don’t knows.”
Why is it so hard for us to answer this question?
I think there are several reasons for our difficulty, one major reason being the feeling that we don’t have time for fun or self-care. Yet, caring for ourselves well influences how effective we are at jobs and our relationships. I hope that in this blog, I can jog your creative juices to identify a few new activities that you enjoy doing to care for self.
There are two main types of coping strategies: avoidant and active. Avoidant could include excessive drinking, shopping, gambling, or numbing out on social media. Active coping skills require that we engage in something different, rather than remaining in stress.
Anything can be a coping strategy! This blog is all about encouraging your creative juices to get pumping.
Here is a list to help get you started:
- Going on a date
- Going to a movie
- Spending time with a supportive friend (who you can be yourself with)
- Exercising: walking/running/playing sports
- Listening to music/podcasts
- Laughing
- Reading for fun, or to learn
- Making dinner
- Planning a trip, or fun activity
- Working on a creative project
- Taking a bath (maybe with a new bath bomb)
- Journaling
- Drawing
- Drinking tea
- Photographing
- Dancing
- Having a stimulating conversation
Some of my favorites include enjoying a cup of coffee, reading a good book, going for a run by the river, hiking in North Georgia or around Atlanta, taking pictures, and trying new places to eat.
Written by: Kim DeRamus
