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" Taking care of yourself does not mean me first but me too" - LR Knost. Self-care is extremely important and all of us need to take time for it . The tips below by one of our caregivers who is also a massage therapist, Barb Brender, will hit the spot!
- If you’re feeling achy, have tight or sore muscles, or are an avid athlete try taking an Epsom Salt bath. Take a couple of handfuls of Epsom salts and put it in a very warm bath. Sit and relax until the bath cools down, 20 minutes or so. I do this often because it draws out any tension or stress in my muscles. Grandma was right about Epsom Salt baths! - Here’s a little trick using tennis balls to help work out chronic knots or areas of discomfort. You can make a handy little massage tool with two tennis balls and a knee high sock. Simply place one ball in the toe of the sock and make a knot, then add the second ball and knot. Lean up against the wall or lie on the floor and place the balls over any tight or uncomfortable areas and roll over to work them out. The beauty of this is that you control the pressure and the placement of the balls. Remember; never roll directly over your spine! - Another favorite is to remember that your breath will bring you back to the present. It’s something that is always with us. When you feel stressed or tense pay attention to your breath. Are you breathing fast and shallow? Stop and mindfully bring your breath all the way down to your belly, even stick out your belly as you fill it with healing “air” energy. Then slowly exhale, from the bottom of the belly to the top of you lungs and let go of anything that is not serving you in this moment. Do this a few times and you’ll soon notice you are feeling more focused and calm. The oxygen you are sending to your muscles is helping them relax and let go too! “Rest and self-care are so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit it allows you to serve others from the overflow. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.” – Eleanor Brownn Hope this is helpful - Thank you for stopping by the blog :) Barb Brender is a Hospice Caregiver Specialist at the Bird House, Hospice Home of Johnson County. Prior to coming to the Bird House, Barb worked for 25 years as a Creative Director for art publishers in Chicago, IL., San Francisco, CA. and Madison WI. When she isn’t working at the Bird House you’ll find her at her massage therapy business, Bodywork for Life’s Seasons. In her free time Barb likes to ride her bike, be in nature, write, design and spend time with friends.
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VOLUNTEERISM
What are the some of the benefits of being a volunteer? For one thing, it is great for your health! From lowering stress to boosting self-confidence, volunteerism not only makes a difference in the lives of others, research shows that it can also improve one’s health. The Mayo Clinic, in an article titled, “Helping People, Changing Lives: The 6 Health Benefits of Volunteering”, offers this information:
Reference: Mayo Clinic (5/18/2017). Retrieved from: http://mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/helping-people-changing-lives-the-6-health-benefits-of-volunteering Article posted by: Rebecca Carver is the Family and Volunteer Coordinator at the Bird House. Prior to coming tot the Bird House, Rebecca was a chaplain with Iowa City Hospice for 13 years. When she isn't working, Rebecca is either knitting, playing violin for one of the musicals in town or taking care of her 3 year old grandson. |
AuthorWelcome to our Bird House Blog: Bird House Chatter. Each month. we will feature a new author on our blog. You will get to hear from volunteers, staff, healthcare professionals, family members, donors, board members! Here's the 2nd one in the series. Please leave comments and let us know if you would like to read about something specific. Thanks for visiting the blog. ArchivesCategories |
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