Dogwood
by Erlene Grise-Owens, Ed.D., LCSW, MSW, MRE, lead co-editor of The A-to-Z Self-Care Handbook for Social Workers and Other Helping Professionals
(Editor’s Note: This article was published in March 2020.)
Even—and actually especially—as the coronavirus crisis builds, it’s important to be intentional about self-care. A previous post emphasized the value of adapting our self-care with seasonal changes. As the Spring equinox approaches, I offer four emphases for this season.
Savor.
Spring is an ideal time to focus on Savoring. As Earth reawakens, it’s refreshing to witness anew Nature’s resilience and beauty. The season’s sounds, scents, and scenery call for savoring.
What is savoring, and how does it contribute to self-care? Besides being a lyrical word, savoring is a way of deepening any experience—whether a simple pleasure, everyday encounter, or extraordinary event. As Tchiki Davis writes, savoring is engaging in an intentional practice to fully feel, enjoy, and extend our positive experiences.
Savoring can be encouraged through the use of rituals. I plan to engage in a daily ritual of pausing to savor our front yard’s blossoming dogwood trees. This savor pause will prompt contemplation and deepen everyday moments, thus, extending my self-care practice. How can you savor this season?
Plan(t).
Along with savoring, Spring is the time to, literally, plant new seeds. It’s also an ideal time to plant new ideas and make new plans for the future. Take this season to plant flowers or simply buy a plant for your office or home. And in terms of new growth, set aside time to plan(t) for “Springing Forward.” Sign up for that CEU. Start that new project. Set a new goal.
Bringing in the new requires cleaning out some of the old. Clearing out winter’s detritus is a first step in planting new seeds. This clearing out may be literally cleaning your spaces—e.g., yard, home, office, car. It may involve emotional cleaning out of old ideas, patterns, or emotional “baggage.” Oftentimes, physical and emotional processes are complementary. Check out Stacey Sougoufara’s “Spring Cleaning” challenge for inspiration and ideas.
Reinforce.
As with much of life, in our self-care journey, we can become so entranced with new ideas that we fail to give adequate attention to reinforcing (and celebrating!) our progress. As noted in a previous blog, daily habits are a core aspect of self-care. Along with new emphases, this Spring, be intentional about reinforcing old habits you want to keep!
Consider how to maintain self-care habits, as we transition. For example, perhaps in the Winter’s self-care emphasis (see blog noted above), you began to establish better habits for rest. Use that Winter emphasis as a springboard (wink) to solidify your rest in this new season. In another instance, my friend Kim sequestered a nook in her home this Winter, where she began her mornings with a cozy cup of tea, good book, and reflection. As Spring approaches, she plans to continue the ritual; but she will set up a reading chair on her back stoop to allow for more savoring of Spring.
And, add YOUR ING!
In sharing my 2020 self-care vision, I noted an important consideration in effective self-care is the ING. That is, self-care needs to become a verb, not just a noun. Really, we need to be self-care-ing! The “ing” activates our self-care.
So, as we move into the Spring season, what’s your ING? What is a particular area of self-care that you need to focus on in an activated way? It may be meditating, singing, journaling, setting boundaries, reading, anything that adds zing!
For me, especially since my 2020 self-care vision involves even more writing (sitting!), my Spring activated self-care focus is Mov-ING! As I’ve shared previously, physical is my biggest self-care struggle. Reframing this area from being athletic (NOT!) to being active (OK!) has really helped me. In this Spring season, I am focusing even more explicitly on defining active as any movement. Planned steps include: taking breaks from writing for stretches and brief walks, recommitting to yoga classes (when the Coronavirus restrictions allow), savoring more extended nature walks, and scheduling more walking meetings.
As we welcome the season of Spring: Savor the present. Plan(t) for the future. Reinforce past progress. And, add your ING for Self-Care-ing! I’ve savored this conversation with you. I hope it plants ideas for our shared growth that reinforces ongoing dialogue about self-care. And, now, it’s time for my “ing” part of the self-care movement (wink!). See you on the path!
Peace, Love, & Self-Care, Erlene
Dr. Erlene Grise-Owens, Ed.D., LCSW, MSW, MRE, is a Partner in The Wellness Group, ETC. This LLC provides evaluation, training, and consultation for organizational wellness and practitioner well-being. Dr. Grise-Owens is lead editor of The A-to-Z Self-Care Handbook for Social Workers and Other Helping Professionals. As a former faculty member and graduate program director, she and a small (but mighty!) group of colleagues implemented an initiative to promote self-care as part of the social work education curriculum. Previously, she served in clinical and administrative roles. She has experience with navigating toxicity and dysfunction, up-close and personal! Likewise, as an educator, she saw students enter the field and quickly burn out. As a dedicated social worker, she believes the well-being of practitioners is a matter of social justice and human rights. Thus, she is on a mission to promote self-care and wellness!