Blog Post 9: Self Care and the Power of Routine

Creating daily routines that address our own needs - and therefore health - is great for Type C self care. For me (Anna), this has been key to my chronic illness recovery. I’m a huge list maker; every day is governed by a checklist, and I love the feeling of productivity that comes from getting things done. A while ago, I started a morning routine on my checklist that made sure I put my own needs first, which was admittedly difficult to start. But I realized that if I want to have the energy required to run my own business and be the present mother/wife I want to be, my health must come first. 

So - nutrition, exercise, and journaling are the first things on my list every morning. I’ve seen firsthand how eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables every day improves my health, so if I need to make a grocery store run in the morning to re-stock, I do it. Journaling on a Google doc is next up - and I do it in this manner so I can erase anything that is too sensitive! Simply writing things out goes a long way toward helping me release and process difficult emotions and challenging situations. And the positive benefits of exercise go without saying.

My recovery is ongoing, and there are plenty of days when I slip out of the routine for one reason or another! In these cases, I’ve learned self-compassion is important as well as reflection on why priorities may have shifted. Stress can make all of us want a muffin instead of spinach!

Kore Note: Anna, these are great points. I want to reiterate, as in our last post, that it can be very hard to make this time for yourself and to continue to remind yourself of the cost of slipping back into Type C patterns. Guilt or discomfort usually shows up when we make ourselves a priority, so it’s important to manage that. I also want to add that it’s helpful to notice and be curious about what else shows up when we make time for ourselves. There may be guilt at first - but what else? Perhaps some confidence starts to grow, or sleep or stomach issues improve a bit. Maybe we are more present and have better interactions with friends or family. Over time, noticing the positive aspects of making self care a priority is as important as managing any negative emotions that show up.