Developing A Self-Care Plan to better your relationship. Self-care can be extremely challenging for individuals. Taking care of oneself is so critical to survival as a person and as people in a relationship. Yet it is something that is often neglected in our day to day consciousness of things to do. Think of the ramifications of not taking care of yourself as an individual and how it can affect your relationship. Promoting strategies for enhancing personal health and well-being will offer work/life balance, helping recognize when stress when reaching a dangerous level, provide coping skills to manage difficult situations, and allow for making healthy lifestyle choices. Self care is essential for good mental health.
Developing A Self-Care Plan To Better Your Relationship
There are many small steps that can be taken to begin an effective self-care plan. Starting with a few small actions, then adding more as time goes by to ensure that your needs and wants are being met. Reducing your own suffering is good for everyone involved. You start to feel better and put some distance between you and your last straw. You gain energy and patience for dealing with problems, there’s less tension and pain in your relationship that can trigger to acting out, and you can set a good example for your loved one.
Essential components may include:
- Balance between work and family or personal life
- A support network of friends and coworkers
- A relaxed and positive outlook
For stressors in your personal life:
- Regular exercise
- Sleeping 7 – 8 hours per night
- Eating a healthy diet
- Playing with a pet
- Journal
- Talk to a Therapist
- Meditate (minimum 10 minutes)
- Talk to a supportive friend
- Read
- Listen to music
- Get a massage
- Take long baths
Stressors in your work life:
- Clarify your job description
- Request a transfer if needed or ask for new duties
- Time some time off
- Find humor in situations
- Take your lunch break
- Avoid negative people
- Be more assertive
- Manage your time better; make to-do lists
- Don’t control things you can’t control
- Express and share your thoughts and feelings
The breakup rate can be high in couples due in part to lack of self care. Learning to apply basic strategies as mentioned above, can promote a healthier sense of balance among relationships. Creating and practicing an effective plan can improve aspects of a couple’s relationship and can result in a more harmonious and satisfying union.
For more information about couples and developing and maintaining satisfying relationships please contact me at (858) 735-1139 or email me at [email protected]
