​

Happy Sunday Reader!
​

Sometimes self-care is doing the opposite of what you have planned or should do. Skipping what is planned or scheduled, to do something different (or even not do anything at all!) can be the best choice.

It seems like there have many emotional or scary things happening in the news recently. Sometimes, you just need to take a step back and do something different for your self-care and overall wellness. It's great to have your go-to favorite self-care activities, sometimes doing something out of the norm can make a world of difference.

Even after just a couple of days, many people are noticing a negative effect of these news stories on their emotional and mental health. Today, our self-care tip is going to look at how to take care of yourself when there is disaster and tragedy occurring in the world.

Self care tip.....

When you are overwhelmed by the news around you, it is important to take a moment and notice how you are feeling. Everyone handles overwhelming news in different ways, but if you are noticing negative reactions like, fear, obsessive thoughts, dread, or overwhelm, it may be time to intentionally do some self-care.

Self-care ideas when you are overwhelmed by the news:

• Connect with people you care about. One on one or a small group where you can have individual contact is best.
• Breath. Often overwhelm comes with rapid shallow breathing, so pausing and taking some deep breaths will calm your entire body and nervous system.
• Nourish yourself. This is pure comfort food! Put away the spinach and wheat grass, we are making Grandma’s Lasagna or any other food that says comfort to you! For me, this is either a rich beef stew that braises all afternoon, or a warm spicy bowl of yellow curry over fragrant rice that makes my eyes water. Whatever it is for you, take an afternoon to linger and enjoy the cooking process.
• Give yourself some margin this week. Look at your schedule for the week and see if there is anything you can cancel or move that gives you a little extra breathing room in your week. Things may be a little extra difficult or slow this week, and some margin can keep you from getting stressed out.
• Get moving. Move your body in a way that feels good. Everyone is unique, so this could be anything from an extreme kickboxing class to a gentle yoga class where you fall asleep in savasana. You do you!
• Disconnect. It is ok to disconnect and hide from the bad news for a while. Put your phone on airplane mode and pick up a favorite book. Do something indulgent for yourself alone. Here are some ideas if you need a little inspiration.

There is no right or wrong way to respond when there is scary news like this. Listen to yourself. Give yourself compassion for how you are responding, even if it does not make logical sense to you. If you have family members or friends who are struggling with this, here is a great article with tips on how to have a conversation with people of all ages about the current events.

Etsy Find of the week.....

Etsy this week will be about finding peace and some easy distractions.

Remind yourself what peaceful is with this printable word art piece.

Take a moment to quiet and escape your mind with a guided meditation.

I am hilariously bad at painting anything, but I have always found it to be incredibly calming. Create a calm seascape with this art kit.

Take some time to journal the anxiety away with this personalized journal to help you find gratitude in the moment.

​

Upcoming week intention......

Take some intentional time this week to disconnect from the news and what is happening in the world. Choose something fun, exciting, or soul-filling to do with your time instead.

Weekly good news to share.....

When news stories feel overwhelming, sometimes it can help to look for impacts on individual people, rather than seeing the massive effects of entire cities or populations. Today, we are focusing on the story of one woman who was able to have her life changed through a surgery offered by the charity Mercy Ships.

​You can read the story here, but imagine the joy and hope Mabouba had when she woke up from surgery to find this huge weight gone. You don't need to be a trained surgeon to impact an individual person. Anyone can have an impact on a single person's day and give them joy and hope with something as small as a smile, holding the door, or a simple complement. How are you going to impact one person this week?

Featured blog post of the week......

If you need some distracting self-care ideas for this week, I have a bunch of spring themed self-care ideas in my post this week! Take a moment to read the list and see what inspires you!

One thing I am loving this week.....

As spring seems to be in no rush to arrive in many areas of the US, my mind is already thinking ahead to summer travels! I love this post about some of the most underrated summer destinations to visit this summer. While the favorites are great (I'm looking at you Hawaii, LA, and NYC!), I am more interested in exploring some new and exciting places!

​This is a great list to get your ideas flowing! I have spent some quality time on the southern coast of Maine, in Austin, and in the San Juan Islands and can highly recommend all of them! I think I am looking for somewhere different and am debating on Jackson Hole or Scottsdale AZ this year! Any recommendations for me?

Katie

PS: Don't forget to join us on Instagram or Facebook to share your thoughts on our topic this week!

For more info from Kaybee Lives, check out our website or sign up for our weekly newsletter here.