Summer Self-Care

This month in our Patreon, we have started looking at S for Summer Self-Care on our A-Z of Creative, Educational, and Personal Development topics. Self-care is important all year round, but Summer offers an opportunity for certain aspects of self-care in a more attainable way. The weather is better (OK, this is the UK, so that is debatable!), people sometimes feel more energetic (which makes sense as within the cycle of the year/seasonal year, we are in the 'growing tide', later in the year and into Jan/Feb we have the 'resting tide' and following these natural cycles in ways that we can can be really helpful). Summer may offer more opportunity for a walk, to meet up with friends, and as a very basic, to drink more water or juice, as we are perspiring more and feel like drinking more. I always see drinking enough fluids as one of the most basic, but most vital aspects of self-care. We oftentimes complicate things or make things like self-care into some huge idea, but actually, it is the basics that are usually the most effective! Water, good air, healthy food, sleep. This year, as a big part of my ongoing yearly professional development, I have listed self-care. I have been reflecting on how I sometimes give away what I need (speaking beyond material goods here), how I go the extra mile (which isn't a bad thing, but when I am feeling tired or want to do something else important for myself, it is not so healthy), how I have sometimes felt guilty for charging for helping services, how I have sometimes shortened leave a little (especially now we have decided to take more adequate leave times and also a certain month for me to get the majority of my blood tests and breast cancer screenings sorted without rushing). Self-care for me as a type 3 on the Enneagram with a big type 2 wing (if you know that system) is also allowing myself to 'do nothing' (though doing nothing is often doing something very useful for oneself!). Summertime offers those 'doing nothing' (and yet that is everything!) relaxing drinks in the garden looking at the trees and watching the pigeons conflict over the fatballs! Usually with Uri Angel rat tucked in my robe or sitting on my knee if it is too hot for the robe (though of course I don't have my pets out in the hot sun when it would be bad for their health and too hot). Animals are a big part of my self-care and my joy. Anyway, enough of my self-care and story, what about you? How might Summer offer you opportunity to reflect on self-care in Summer specific ways? A bit of hanging on the branch like Masuma Sloth can do wonders for us! Check out my blog at the Open University too, where I have been touching on self-care (and more) for students as the end of one academic year is upon us and another one begins in the Autumn. Take good care, Until soon, Leighah (and of course Hannah)

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