Inspired by a conversation with a dear friend last night, she was advising me to focus on the small ways of nurturing myself throughout the day, that help me keep my energy up for dealing with wee ones.
I’ve been brought up by a huge people pleaser and definitely have these tendencies, which I have/am trying to work on. The conversation made me reflect on how hard I find it to know what I want/ need/ what nurtures me, because making other people happy usually features in what I think I want, if that makes sense. Like it’s hard for me to be happy with just prioritising myself if it conflicts in any way with other people’s wishes. I know it’s not rational, and it’s not selfish to do that, but it’s like a deeply learned behaviour that I’m gradually trying to dismantle.
So this friend was talking about small things like going in the garden alone to drink in 10 minutes of sun, dance and sing, eat food I like etc.
We don’t have a tv so a lot of what I do to relax when kids not around is mumsnet and online stuff - my friend suggested this is still about helping others/receiving help - not nurture as such.
Anyway that’s a bit rambly but that’s where my head is at - how do you nurture yourself? What does that mean to you?