Being a Mother in Medicine I have learned that in order to care for others’ families and grow these intimate relationships with my patients, I must ensure that my own family is nurtured, thriving and happy.  My patients’ mothers have taught me that to be a woman is to be inherently powerful, and to nurture and help mold our families is integral to healthy communities.  In order to do that, I place myself and self-care as a top priority.   I have found that connecting with myself magnifies other relationships in my life. When you understand self-care as an investment, you will be more likely to form a self-care routine.  My two favorite activities to do this are Meditation and Massage. 

Meditation. Mindful meditation has been found to lower cortisol levels, the stress hormone, in the blood.  Meditation is the art and science of focus and relaxation, and this begins with the body and then progresses to thoughts.  It simply means turning your focus inward.  Guided meditation forces you to explore your true self, and I think that is a pretty sweet form of self-care!

Massage.  The health benefits of massage are plentiful.  Massage can boost immunity, improve sleep and ease muscle pain.  It is so easy to forget about our bodies on a day-to-day basis until we experience some type of pain or other discomfort.  Massage helps me to focus on my core self by awakening my muscles through touch.

My self-care routine is pretty fly, as I decided not to go it alone.  The self-care gurus at Replenish Spa in downtown Columbus guide me through a monthly, refreshing routine.  I spend 30 minutes meditating with Monique followed by 30 minutes of body massage by Aaron.  Monique is a mindfulness guru and Aaron specializes in reflexology.  Find a retreat of your own in your home city, and stick to your ritual! 

Consider trying these easy self-care hacks to get started or revive your routine: 

*Write a love letter to yourself.  Remind yourself how awesome you are.  Write down positive things about yourself.  Dig deep and write why you are proud of the person you are.  

*Unplug from social media. Take one day (or 30!) off from your social media of choice.  Several recent studies have linked prolonged use of social networking sites with signs and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Temporarily deactivating your account or unfollowing/blocking people that negatively affect you will be a self-care boost.