I’ve had a stressful week. Maybe you have too?
During times like these, we need effective self care. To help with that, I often come back to a piece of wisdom that’s easy to forget—especially when we feel overwhelmed: keep it simple.
When you’re under stress or your capacity is low, it’s not the time to make big, dramatic changes. In fact, the most effective self care often comes from small, accessible steps—things that gently shift how you feel without adding to your to-do list. After all, when you’re overwhelmed, the last thing you need is to add to your load!
Why Simple Works
In yoga therapy, we talk a lot about matching the practice to the person—not just who you are, but how you are right now. Effective self care is going to look different from person to person (and from moment to moment). When energy is low or stress is high, your nervous system benefits most from simple, consistent inputs.
Small, simple actions might not look impressive from the outside, but they help create real, sustainable change. That’s because they meet you where you are, instead of asking you to push harder or do more. Effective self care should help rejuvenate you, not drain your energy further.
You’re also more likely to be successful when you simplify. A stressful week may not be the time to learn a complicated new organizational system or add a long yoga practice to your schedule—and if you set yourself this goal, you may reach the end of the week and find that you haven’t managed to do it after all.
However, two minutes to breathe mindfully? You’ve got the time and energy for that! And you might be surprised how much difference it makes, especially if you’re able to be consistent over time.
Effective Self Care Starts with One Small Step
In your quest for effective self care, the most important (and sometimes the hardest) piece is to get started. And that means it’s important to do something different from what you usually do, to take a small step towards feeling better.
It’s almost more important that you do something than that you find the perfect way to take care of yourself in stressful times.
To get started, ask yourself:
What is the smallest, easiest thing I could do to shift how I feel right now?
What could I do that doesn’t require going anywhere, buying anything, or even much time?
Here are a few ideas:
- Chant in the car or play calming music instead of listening to the news
- Try the physiological sigh to quickly regulate your nervous system
- Step outside and look up at the sky
- Pause to listen to a bird singing
- Place one hand on your chest and one on your belly, and feel your breath moving
These practices might seem small—but they work. They engage your senses to help you be in the present moment. By doing so, they bring your body and mind back to a more regulated state, helping you feel more grounded, even in the middle of a chaotic day.
You Don’t Have to Do It Alone
If you’re not sure where to start, or what might help most in your situation, that’s okay. You don’t have to figure it all out by yourself.
You can find more ideas in the resources below, or reach out for personalized support. I’m happy to help you find simple, sustainable ways to feel more like yourself again.
Email me anytime or book a free call if you’d like to chat
