selfcare-with-senshi

[selfcare-with-senshi]

“I will not think less of myself just because you do not know how to love me.”

— Stephanie Chhum

[selfcare-with-senshi]

Hey! You don't always have to go for the healthiest option if it's too overwhelming for you. The healthier option is already a great start!

You don't need to say goodbye to soda entirely yet, you can have a sugarfree alternative! It's okay if you still need nicotine patches or gum because quitting cold turkey is too hard! One beer is better than two beers! Three chocolates are better than five!

You get what I'm saying - progress is progress, even if slow! It's better to go slow and steady than to push yourself to perfection and then relapse even harder!

[selfcare-with-senshi]

How to care for your body - Hydration

The five fundaments of proper self care are eating enough food, drinking enough water, getting enough restful sleep, exercising, and your personal hygiene. If even one of these fundaments is out of balance for a while, you will feel unwell. That's why most times when you have a headache, feel exhausted or just unhappy, the first questions include whether you ate, drank or slept recently, when the last time you went outside was, and when you took your last shower.

It's annoying to hear, especially when you struggle with your mental health. But sadly, it's very important and very true - when you make a change in these habits, you will notice a difference in your wellbeing, even if it's small at first.

Most people struggle with consistently keeping these fundaments covered, so don't worry, you're not alone if you feel like it's a lot.

Let's take it step by step. And step one should always be hydration.

Start with drinking enough. Always, always start with drinking enough. Water is life. Without water, there is no life. Even our bodies are mostly water. So it only makes sense we need it the most out of the fundaments of self care.

The human body needs about 2 to 3 liters of water a day. The heavier the body, the more exercise you get and the more you sweat, the more water you require. If drinking water by itself is difficult for you, there are lots of ways to make it more appealing for you. I'll be listing some useful examples below:

Set an alarm every hour to remind you to drink a 250 ml glass of water. If you wake up at 8 AM for example, you'll have 2 liters by 4 PM, and 3 liters by 8 PM.

Use small drinking glasses, or cups you enjoy drinking out of in general. I personally find it easier and more appealing to fill a 80 ml glass three times in a row than to drink from a bigger glass.

Make it fun. I pretend I'm taking shots from my 80 ml glass for example. Or I pretend I'm a flower on the verge of drying out and I finally receive much needed rain. It doesn't matter if it's silly, as long as it helps you stay hydrated.

If you're like me and water makes you nauseous or gives you an icky feeling, I suggest trying healthy additions like water syrups, waterdrop microdrink cubes, making iced tea or fruit juice yourself, or if you crave the bubbles of a soda, I can only recommend purchasing a soda maker. You can regulate the amount of bubbles you want yourself - AND you can add syrup after if you want, too!

Other alternatives to get more water into your body include (but aren't limited to) sucking on ice cubes or eating crushed ice for example. Foods like watermelon, strawberries, cucumbers or milk also help with keeping you hydrated.

Keep a water diary or a log, if it helps you. Personally I feel stressed out by these things, but if it's helpful for you to write it down whenever you drank something, go ahead! I saw there are also apps designed like games that help you drink enough, like every time you drink water and type it in, a plant grows a little more... it's very cute, but like I said, stressful for me personally.

If you have any more ideas or questions, feel free to comment, reblog, or send me an ask :)

Hydration can be very difficult, especially when you're ill, busy, or dealing with sensory issues. If you can manage to hydrate well, your body will thank you. You're at a lower risk for UTIs, your body has an easier time flushing out toxins and illnesses, your skin will become clearer, maintaining your weight will be easier too... it has lots and lots of positive effects.

You can do it! ദ്ദി ˉ͈̀꒳ˉ͈́ )✧

[selfcare-with-senshi]

You relapsed?

That's okay. It happens to the best of us. You can imagine your habits like a record, and your mind is a record player. When you play the same record over and over again for a long time, it's only normal your mind will want to repeat the same pattern again and again.

But you can change the record. You can change the record anytime. Even in the middle of the old habit, you can say, you know what, I don't like this. And change it.

Change takes time. Creating new habits takes time. Start again today. You can do it ദ്ദി ˉ͈̀꒳ˉ͈́ )✧

[selfcare-with-senshi]

Repeat after me: My body deserves to be cared for, regardless of whether I consider it attractive or not

[selfcare-with-senshi]

What did you guys do for selfcare today? :)

[selfcare-with-senshi]

It is water time, fill a bottle and keep it near you if you haven't! Remember that adding flavor or drinking juice also works if you prefer 

[selfcare-with-senshi]

Any advice you could give someone who wakes up at night to eat? I wake up and my first way is to the fridge. I need it like a fix. I tried not having any candy at home but then I just binge on something else…

Hmm, I‘m not a professional but this sounds like either an issue with disordered eating, food addiction, or a health issue to me… since you mentioned candy in particular I assume that’s the main issue? That you binge on candy right after waking up at night?

I would bring this up to your primary care provider. Maybe you have low blood glucose levels, so your body wakes you up to get a sugar fix. Maybe you’re particularly stressed and you subconsciously jump to eating for comfort? Especially when it happens right after you wake up at night. Have you ever thought about how you feel when you wake up? Right before your binges? Are you anxious or feel dizzy?

Again, I would bring it up to your primary care doctor. There are so many reasons behind this kind of behavior ranging from hormonal issues to stress or simply boredom. Neurodivergent individuals might even seek specific foods for stimming to regulate their emotions after nightmares or when they’re tired, I don’t know if that could be a possibility for you.

[selfcare-with-senshi]

Hey you! Stop holding it in! Go use the bathroom, your body will thank you. There is always time for that!

[selfcare-with-senshi]

Through gritted teeth, balled up fists, tightly shut eyes, and tentative steps, it will be okay, and if it isn't, I'll make it okay, because who else will live my life for me?

[selfcare-with-senshi]

“I must learn to be content with being happier than I deserve.”

— Jane Austen

[selfcare-with-senshi]

Good morning! Don’t forget to take your meds! ദി ˉ͈̀꒳ˉ͈́ )✧

[selfcare-with-senshi]

Do you have any tips on eating consistently 3 times a day as someone with adhd? I always forget from how busy I am :( (I’m unmediated and diagnosed)

My first idea would be to set alarms with reminders, preferably at around the same time every day, and to bring food with you in advance if you happen to be out at that time. Some people also find that it helps them to plan their meals in advance, to make a weekly list for example, shop for the ingredients and prepare everything once you need it.

If you don’t have the time or energy to cook, sandwiches, cereal and salads are quickly made, maybe you can also bring your favorite snack so you have something to look forward to to encourage you to eat!

Another idea I have would be to actually ask someone else to remind you, if you have someone nearby who you can trust with this task. It’s a little harder to turn down a human being than an alarm too… lol

I generally suggest always pairing your meals with something enjoyable. A comfort food, your favorite series, some good music, a game you like… anything that makes you look forward to it helps it stick to your mind :)

Quick and simple is sometimes the key. I suggest cutting up and freezing fruit pieces for example! You can just take them out of the freezer the next day and bring them with you, maybe with a yogurt, and bam, healthy delicious snack. Adding frozen vegetables to rice, bam, a meal.

And remember, it’s better to eat something light or „unhealthy“ than to eat nothing at all :)

[selfcare-with-senshi]

It’s alright if you can’t view your stretch marks as tiger stripes, if your scars don’t make you feel like a warrior, and if your buck teeth don’t make you look like a cute bunny in the mirror.

Sometimes we just can’t make our insecurities sound nice and pretty. Sometimes we have to view our little imperfections as exactly that. But always keep in mind - you’re far from the only one who has them. Every single person around you has something they’re not satisfied with - even the most gorgeous person you know.

You are perfect the way you are, WITH your imperfections, and while you may not be ready to love them yet, I hope you can learn to tolerate them. ദ്ദി ˉ͈̀꒳ˉ͈́ )✧

[selfcare-with-senshi]

When’s the last time you ate? Don’t forget to feed yourself! Even when it’s hot, something like fruit or salad will both give you vitamins and cool you down :)

[selfcare-with-senshi]

Did you know that singing helps with regulating your vegetative nervous system? It stimulates your vagus nerve, just like eating, drinking, and deep breathing. The vibration of humming helps as well. But singing combines the vibration of your voice, having to focus on your breathing and the song, it offers both a distraction and signals your body that you’re safe.

So next time you feel anxious, try singing as loud and wrong as you can! If you can’t think of a song, sing „meow“ as high and low as you can, and notice where your feel the vibration in your throat!

You get bonus points for singing in the shower, because not only do you get nice and clean; the steam of warm water is also good for your vocal chords and makes your singing voice sound smoother!

ദ്ദി ˉ͈̀꒳ˉ͈́ )✧