[Willowleaf]

Having a really tough time again and t said I needed to rest more and nourish myself but I had no idea what she means. I am unable to eat anything I want due to diet and because of other health issues I am unable to read or listen to music my other favourite relaxing activities. She said we would talk more on Friday if I was still at a loss. Right now I feel a mess of emotions and don't want to get out of bed and go to work so wondered if any of you had ideas for how we can nourish ourselves during a normal day.

[stopdog]

I am sorry - that sounds rough. I am uncertain if you mean physical nutrition or spiritual/mental?

I'm sorry things are so bad right now. Sometimes I nourish myself by not getting out of bed for a while ..... I DO know how to nourish myself, and it has nothing to do with food. I give myself what I need at the moment. It could be extra rest, it could be time away from people, or from work, or from anything that's taxing my resources. My body/mind tells me what I need, and I try to give myself that. If you listen to your inner voice, it tells you what you need. Sorry I can't be more specific ....

But sometimes it's nothing more than rest and quiet time. And sometimes, chocolate ....

[stopdog]

Or a really good book with characters you like to be with.

[Willowleaf]

Thanks for your replies. I think she means mentally / spiritually as I am a bit of an emotional mess at the moment, but not able to really identify emotions let alone know how to deal with them.
Chocolate is one of my favourite ways, but on this rotten diet means that I can do it but rarely. Last night though was one of the exceptions!
Its really hard trying to look after myself when I feel so pants. At least I have made it out of bed and got to work. Once the day starts I generally manage to push the feelings to one side until I have a break or the end of the day when they hit me with avengence.

[Perna]

I play little games with myself; at grocery stores I ask myself if I had to buy one item for myself, what would I choose? Sometimes I just randomly ask myself "what would I like right this moment?" and go "get" it.

Do you dream? I spent some comforting time keeping a dream journal and studying dreams and how they impacted my life. I've also made long lists of things I'd like in my life or things I felt I need to do (from cleaning the bathroom to dusting to buying X ingredients at the store for a special meal for myself :-) and started to work on the list; doing something, anything, always makes me feel better, like I'm making "progress" in the right direction.

I sit down in the peace & quiet and think about how my life used to be & how it is now. Gives me a feeling of inner contentment.

Originally Posted by Perna

Do you dream? I spent some comforting time keeping a dream journal and studying dreams and how they impacted my life.

Yes! Dream work. I do a lot of this, something that my t got me started on and it's become a hobby of mine. I really enjoy it. I keep a notebook and pen by my bed to record my dreams, even if all I get are scraps of things. Then I type them up every few days and work on interpreting the symbolism in them. My t was a great teacher in the art of dream work!

Sleep or just a lazy day in bed is sometimes exactly what is called for. I also crochet, the whole turning a ball of yarn into something beautiful is very fulfilling.

But my favorite way to nourish and replenish my soul is alone time out in nature! I have learned that this is a necessity for my well-being. I love to go hiking out in the desert. But it doesn't even have to be that involved, just going outside on my lunch break and sitting by myself at a picnic table under the trees, I close my eyes and concentrate on just "being" for a few minutes. As my signature says I'm an INFJ personality type and I NEED my alone time to replenish and restore!

(Hoping this isn't too much of an obvious, unimaginative, uninspiring answer, but...!) When I'm feeling really bad sometimes it helps to have a nice long relaxing bubblebath, with a candle or two lit... then maybe I'll spend some time giving myself a manicure or pedicure - a bit of pampering that also takes some focus and attention for a while. Once in a while I'll do a hair colour or treatment myself at home, which can give me a bit of a boost.

People watch....sometimes I like to people watch and guess what their lives are like.

[taylor43]

For me i play my games on facebook, watch tv, or go for a walk to nourish myself.

[Brightheart]

I have recently started meditating. I enjoy listening to beautiful music and writing poetry. I also find that being outside and connecting with nature is very nourishing. I always feel peaceful and replenished after a walk. Reaching out to others who are hurting feels very comforting to me as well.

I hope you are able to nourish and nurture yourself.

Take care.

[Willowleaf]

Thanks so much for all your replies. They were really helpful even if you thought they might be obvious! Unfortunately when I feel like this nothing is obvious so all ideas have been great. I have ended up curled up in bed with fluffy socks and a blanket. Not sure if it counts but it is what I wanted. Unfortunately I still have work to prepare for tomorrow so need to do that but tomorrow evening am going to try and make myself do something different. I hate the fact that it is so difficult when I feel this way and it is such an effort to force myself to be good to myself. Am getting better at it when I am having a good spell so maybe it will come. Please keep the ideas coming if you have more, it's been really interesting and helpful. Thankyou

[pbutton]

Fluffy socks definitely help me. I don't know if anyone here has read Carrie Pilby, but in the book her T talks about the joys of brand new socks.

[mcl6136]

I have recently been having a hard time and have decided to do the things that made me happy when I was way younger

*New pajamas ..cost only $14 at local discounter
*Made cookies
*got a new magazine subscription
*got a pumpkin and intend to carve it
*watched cartoons on saturday morning.
*Read an old favorite book
*the old bubblebath standby.
*Allowing myself to do nothing for more than an hour
*Look through field glasses at a park or nature center
*Ride bike
*Good aromatherapy oils, maybe a lamp for them!

Sometimes I feel like I get caught up in very adult things (drink with friends) when it would be really nice to nurture myself in some old fashioned (cheap) ways. stuff that goes way back and is necessarily comforing.

I agree with the sox thing....its my favorite thing to get as a gift BRAND NEW FLUFFY sox's. I wish I was rich I would wear a new pair everyday!

Smells can help calm you too... boil some cinnamon sticks and your house will smell wonderful.

[Willowleaf]

New pj's to go with fluffy socks now that's a wonderful idea. And could make cookies whilst wearing them. You're right we sometimes forget the simplest things