Grief. The Start of Self Care.

🟣A big day in the city for me yesterday. Perth was busy, traffic jams, high rise parking (I got one of the last parking spots on the 10th floor) and exciting meetings in the city.

🟣I often have people  ask me “I don’t know how you do what you do, talking about grief everyday Michelle, how do you do it?”.

🟣The first part of my answer is that it is pure determination to help other people who are experiencing grief and offer unique services that I needed straight away when I first became a young widow. The other part of ‘how I do it’ is that I prioritise maintaining a work/life balance and connect with life. It is not easy, as my determination is strong.

🟣What does this balance look like?

🟣When I arrive home after a big work day like yesterday, my self care strategies naturally kick in. I immediately change out of my work clothes and purposefully focus on what I need to do to re-fuel my body and mind.

🟣Being a Social Worker, educating others the importance of self care is a core part of my practice, and I must practice what I preach. So once home and focusing of self care, I ground myself with my surroundings, appreciating what is around me, noticing the small things that we often are too busy to notice, and appreciating life and beauty. All are very important elements in my self care practice.

🟣This year I moved to a farm, so feel fortunate that I can hang out with my animals. You don’t need a farm to start to practice self care. When I was living in suburbia not long ago, spending time in my garden or watching the sunset over the backyard fence, admiring the colour of the blue skies and the little birds that flew past or sat in the tree…. all of those things have been about self care and living in the moment, even when our hearts are full of grief.

🟣A plant or animals may not be your thing, but consider what is it that you like, what warms your heart, what do you feel excited about? What can you focus your attention on that is helpful? This is the start of working towards self care.

🟣Michelle provides seminars and webinars to workplaces and community groups of Self Care from a Social Work Perspective. Email Michelle at griefconnect@outlook.com for more information.