Self Care As A Spouse
Author: Hannah Hall, Challenge America Program Coordinator
Today is Military Spouse Appreciation Day. Today, we want to honor and thank all the Military Spouse’s that have been in the trenches along with their partner. Whether you are a military spouse, have a military spouse or know military spouses, you know how difficult it can be at times to support those that are serving our country. To go along with our monthly theme of healthy living and to honor Military Spouse’s Day, today’s post is going to talk about self care. Self care is investing in yourself in order to show up better to life, relationships, friends, or just yourself! Self care looks different for everyone, but the need for it is very important!
Today, I want to start a conversation on how you choose to take care of yourself to show up better for your spouse. If you do not have a spouse, tell me how you take care of yourself to show up better for those that are closest to you. Research from the Gottman Institute, a leading researcher in emotional connection, says that investing in yourself can help your relationships grow stronger and can help you and your spouse release tension.
Below are some tips on how to take care of yourself:
Take 15-30 minutes each day to do something that uplifts you. This may be listening to your favorite music, exercising, eating something that makes you feel good or just calling a friend that you enjoy talking with.
When your inner critic or an outer critic finds faults, try and find truth and exception to what is being said
If you stumble or feel you have failed, don’t beat yourself up. Act as if you were your own best friend: be kind and supportive
Do something to wind down at the end of each day
Take a few minutes each day to appreciate yourself
It’s important that each person in a healthy relationship feels supported and connected. There should be trust and respect and each party should prioritize the relationship. Here are some additional tips on how to promote healthy relationships in your everyday life:
Give time - Put more time aside to connect with friends and family.
Be present - It can be tempting to check your phone, Facebook messages or even work emails when with family and friends. Try to be present in the moment and be there for your loved ones. Switch out of work-mode wherever possible.
Listen - Actively listen to what others are saying in a non-judgemental way and concentrate on their needs in that moment
Be listened to - Share how you are feeling, honestly, and allow yourself to be listened to and supported.
Recognise unhealthy relationships - Being around positive people can make us happier. Our wellbeing can be negatively affected by harmful relationships, however, leaving us unhappy. Recognising this can help us move forward and find solutions to issues.
