Self-Care Plan

Physical Needs:
Hiking/Walking: In order to promote a healthy lifestyle, it is important for me to spend some
time exercising. While it is difficult for me to go to the gym or participate in team sports as I
typically would, I can still engage in outdoor physical activities. This is a way in which I can meet
my physical needs as well as emotional (walking with a loved one), spiritual (spending time in
nature), and/or cognitive (listening to an audiobook or podcast).

Yoga: This is a way for me to stretch and engage in physical activity from the safety of my
home. There are numerous yoga resources out there for me to utilize as well as numerous
loved ones who are willing to do yoga with me over video chat.

Cooking: As one of my favorite activities, cooking is one of the best ways in which I plan to care
for my physical needs. Moving forward, I will continue to research health-conscious meals and
include them in my growing repertoire of recipes.

Emotional Needs:
Video Chats with Loved Ones: As I continue to operate in the scope of safe practices for the
pandemic, I have noticed a significant lack of social interaction. I have often found myself
creating excuses as to why I cannot call my friends and family to catch up. I have realized that a
major way in which I can care for myself is to connect with those around me. I am making a
purposeful effort to engage with my loved ones, even if it is simply a five-minute phone call
while I cook dinner, in order to boost my emotional well-being.

Cognitive Needs:
Reading: As I have spent the last 5 years in and out of English Post-Secondary courses, my
personal reading habits have suffered immensely. One way that I am attempting to improve my
self-care surrounding my cognition is to read informative books that are relevant to my life. I
am currently reading Scattered Minds by Gabor Mate and How to Be an Anti-Racist by Ibrahm X
Kendi in order to continue my education about ADHD and Anti-Racism.

Spiritual Needs:
Nature: The most significant way in which I feel closely connected to God is by spending time in
nature. In previous years, I would spend countless weekends in Waterton or other parks and
natural areas. Due to the pandemic as well as time constraints due to my busy schedule, I have
lost some of that connection. In order to improve my self-care, I have decided to be more
purposeful with my time and attempt to at least spend time in the river bottom or other natural
areas within Lethbridge in order to care for my spiritual needs.

Prayer/Meditation: As a general state of being, I often find myself stressed or worked up about
the various things I must complete during the day. I have found that in order to slow myself
down or think things through with a greater sense of clarity, I must spend time in
prayer/meditation. I have found the Staff Prayer on Wednesdays as a quick and easy way to
centre myself during the middle of the week as well as my own personal prayer in the evening
is a good way to settle down before bed.