WHAT WOULD a personal, home care stress "immunisation kit" look like for a modern, busy, working person? Let us say that you are willing to 'tithe' a day to your own personal care.
This is what your package would look like:
* rise at 5:00 a.m.
* breathe deeply five times, one minute of stretching
* work out for 10 minutes to your favourite music (slow-fast-slow), then stretches again for one minute.
* use a simple aroma diffuser, with tea candle, place a few drops of aroma oil in water and place in your bathroom while you shower (5 minutes) continue to enjoy as you sit quietly, just being still and enjoying just "being present in the present" (10 minutes). You may use a special sound therapy tape as a substitute if you find sitting in silence difficult. For listening to this you require headphones
* read an inspirational, self-help book (open at any page) or a 'reading for the day' magazine (5 minutes)
* read your religious instructions (5 minutes)
* pray (5 minutes)
* listen for guidance (5 minutes)
* do your household chores and dress always being mindful of you. Now you are ready for work (24 minutes). Total one hour.
Now it is 6:00 a.m. And you are ready to go (add one hour if you have young children). This will take you to 7:00 a.m.
This is a ritual you may wish to repeat each evening or you may select only aspects of it. Each activity can stand on its own.
- Dr. Sonia Davidson is a
medical practitioner who also
practises integrative medicine.
