Self care…
To care for oneself…
To fulfill the needs of oneself…
This harkens to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, strangely he missed the section on wants!
The basic physiological needs are air, water, food, sleep, clothing, shelter and sex.
Let’s address these basic needs of life in terms of self care. First air or more aptly clean air. Since the industrial revolution our air has become more and more tainted with toxins and chemicals. While it is often acceptable to be “Smokin’ Hot!” it is far less so to smoke things that are hot like cigarettes. Over the millions of years of human evolution, the human organism has developed ways to rid ourselves of naturally occurring toxins. So try to keep from inhaling toxins and chemicals in your daily dose of fresh air.
Let’s talk about water.
Water is water, right?
NO!
The City of Toronto has a high-quality municipal water supply. But some people just don’t like the taste of flat water. It took me years to switch from soda or tonic (with a healthy dose of vodka to kill any germs) and be able to drink plain water. I do add lemons to my water though just to keep it from tasting like warm dishwater. BLECH! Investing in a SodaStream to make your water bubbly can help get that hydration level up. Or maybe go the old-fashioned route and drink kombucha.
Kombucha is fermented tea that you can flavour with your favorite juice. It is naturally carbonated and contains loads of beneficial bacteria to aid in intestinal health. A bubbly flavored drink that is loaded with health benefits. What is there not to love plus you can make your own at home for pennies a glass! Extra bonus!
Our water is also loaded with fluoride and chlorine. Nasty additives which can cause a myriad of health issues. But a big issue for those of us who work outside daily is to keep hydrated and to keep our electrolyte levels up. Hydralyte, Pedialyte (my fav flavor is fruit punch!) or gastralyte are all excellent ways to replace electrolytes lost in the summer heat. Stay away from Gatorade as the high sugar content can wreak havoc on your system.
Then we come to the necessity of food. For 99% of human evolution, we were hunter-gatherers. Agriculture began roughly 10,000 years ago. In the blink of our evolutionary eye, we have gone from eating freshly grown food to mass consumption of highly processed and chemically laden foods. So trying to eat in a biologically appropriate manner takes a bit of fore thought and planning. AND sugar is too yummy! We are addicted to it! It is, not surprisingly, in almost everything! Personally, I don’t see why cheesecake is not a perfectly acceptable breakfast food!
Although to be healthy and increase our longevity and immune function it is advisable to eat organic as much as possible and check out the “Clean 15” and the “Dirty Dozen”. Because most foods are not grown on a field rotation anymore the produce has become nutrient deficient as the soil is stripped of the vital nutrients that the plants need. Buy from farmer’s markets or better yet try to grow as much of your own fruit and vegetables as possible. At least then you will know where your food is coming from! There are great ideas on Pintrest for making vertical garden beds on small space balconies too. Even things like cherry tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, zucchini, squash and others are great vines that grow well vertically.
Snacks of protein and fat will keep you full longer than a sugary treat that is metabolized quickly and sugar causes your insulin level to spike. Natural fats like grass fed butter, nut oils and butters, full fat dairy and green veggies will keep you going longer and avoid those mid morning and mid afternoon sugar crashes!
If you are really keen you can make your own low carb wraps but if you are not so keen the market is filled with great low carb options that didn’t exist even a few years ago. Seriously, with our long days of trekking through the parks and ravines PLUS the tremendous amount of driving that we do, it is darn near impossible to be really keen about cooking. It is the best I can do just to get all of the dogs fed a proper diet!
In terms of healthy eating, eat local, eat seasonally, eat natural full fat foods, consume pure protein, avoid processed foods and source out a local and ( this is the key) convenient store which carries healthy low carb food choices. Healthy Planet is great as is Qi, The Big Carrot and many smaller organic grocers. Don’t think for a second that low carb is low fun! Strawberries with organic whipped cream and melted 95% chocolate is tres fun and low carb! So are chicken wings cooked in Frank’s Red Hot sauce or Cesar Salad, sans croutons, but topped with no carb bacon and freshly grated parmesan cheese. Filling low carb wraps ( The Tortilla Factory) with full fat cheese, greens, a protein such as a boiled egg, broiled chicken, turkey or beef will keep you full and fueled!
Then we must address our need for sleep. If you have ever stayed up studying for exams and pulled an “all nighter” you are aware of the effects of sleep deprivation. Mammals require sleep to regenerate and process information. Sleep is vital and sometimes fleeting. Sleep is also dependant upon the light dark cycle of the Earth and is heavily reliant upon one’s biorhythm. So shut off any electronic devices an hour or two before bedtime. Keep to the same schedule of sleep and waking no matter the day, yup, this means the weekends too! Within reason of course. Who hates sleeping in on a lazy Saturday? NO ONE! If you are a chronic insomniac, there are many routines, supplements and alternative treatments that can help.
The need for clothing is rather a no brainer as we all have our own preferences. In the dog walking industry, the need for sturdy clothing and footwear is obvious.
The requirement for shelter as a human need is fairly wide reaching. We all want to feel safe and secure in our surroundings. This is a big topic.
As for sex, it is the element of procreation and much fun. A topic best left to later posts.
Another area of self-care is having a relaxing deep muscle massage or a cleansing and detoxing sauna. Delving into Traditional Chinese Medicine, visiting a Naturopath, doing yoga or practicing mindfulness can all contribute to a well-balanced mind and body. There are many health modalities to choose from and practice. It is just a matter of finding what works best for you. There is no right answer, just do what makes you feel healthy, vibrant and alive.
So, the topic of self care is wide reaching and elemental to all beings, bipeds and quadrupeds alike. Don’t forget that while all these needs are vital to us humans, they are equally pertinent to our quadruped friends. They can’t necessarily express their needs and desires and it is thus our jobs, responsibilities and duties to fulfill their needs to the best of our abilities.
Do your best for yourself and your clients. Live well and care for each other.