Did you know that emotional stress aka thoughts if you go by the 3Ts (Thoughts, Traumas, Toxins), is responsible for at least 80% of subluxations? It’s true!

That is why we spend so much time talking about the power of positive thinking in this space, because science confirms that our thoughts and our words are powerful!

At Higher Health we are all about helping our practice members rewire their brains and bodies for health, so we thought we’d share some of our favorite ways to help your brain and body unwind when you are feeling the weight of a hard day. Self care is so important! We cannot pour from an empty cup and we can only love and care for others as much we love and care for ourselves.

These suggestions work for kids and adults alike and can be a game changer for your attitude while only taking about 20 minutes or less of your time!

There are a few different categories you can choose from depending on your needs. This blog post will break them down into activities that promote either social, physical, emotional, spiritual, sensory, pleasure, or mental wellbeing.

While these activities only take a few minutes out of your day, they can work wonders in terms of improving health and reducing stress in the body. This is a great starter list,  it is certainly not comprehensive, but we hope it inspires you to pursue your own interests as a way to promote health and wellness!

Our Health

Social Health Activities: go on a lunch date with a friend, call a friend, join a book club, hug someone close to you, give to charity, commit a random and intentional act of kindness, or engage in a support group.

Physical Health Activities: yoga, walking/running, dance, go for a short workout, stretch, take a nap, get adequate rest, or go on a bike ride.

Emotional Health Activities: accept your feelings, write your feelings down, practice self compassion, cry when you need to, laugh when you’re able to, see a counselor.

Spiritual Health Activities: attend a church service or Bible study, meditate, spend time in nature, make a list of 5 things you’re grateful for, read inspirational quotes, write in a journal, pray.

Sensory Activities: breathe in fresh air, snuggle a cozy blanket, listen to running water, sit outside by a warm fire, take a hot shower, pay attention to your breath and practice breathing techniques, cuddle a pet, get a massage, stare at the sky, diffuse essential oils, lay in the sun, listen to music.

Pleasurable Activities: take yourself out to eat, be a tourist in your own town, do a craft or do something creative, make a new recipe, walk your dog, journal, watch a movie, garden, or watch a sunset.

Mental Health Activities: clean out a junk drawer, do something you’ve been avoiding, make a list, drive to a new place, read a book, try a new activity, immerse yourself in a crossword puzzle.

Our Health

While many of us might not have a “self care list” ready to go for when we are dealing with the stress, the goal of practicing self care is for it to become a habit, so that next time we are in a stressful situation we can say “Hey, I need to take care of myself in this situation,” and then act accordingly.

It may take some practice to find the activities that work for you, and they also might change with seasons of life! The better we become at listening to our bodies and truly loving ourselves in all of life’s ups and downs, the easier and more automatic this self care will become.

Remember that we can only love and care for our friends and family as much as we love and care for ourselves!

As always, the staff at Higher Health is here for you as you navigate self care and what that means for you! Please use us as a resource!

Taking care of your nervous system is a very important piece of self care!