Self-care for Sensitive Souls
Reconnect with your inner resources
If you’re easily disturbed by noise, crowds, bright lights and smells, you may be having mixed feelings about going away on holiday. I know how that feels, so here’s how to have a calm and comfortable trip … The List
If you’re not too good with the uncertainties that go with travelling, and your brain goes into frozen panic when you try to think through what you might need, or remember what you took last time and whether it kept you happy … you need a rock-steady ally. Enter The List. This humble little marvel saves your sanity, making short work of complicated things like cabin-bag-planning (with all those 100ml bottles, and flat batteries, and what you can and can’t fit in the ever-diminishing space they allow you over your head). I have a suite of lists covering every type of travelling that I do – from ‘overnight on the ferry’ to ‘weekend seminar’ and ‘three weeks’ camping’. (Well, I’ve pretty much given up camping but I still have the list.) The only drawback is that everyone else in the family starts to rely on you to do the thinking for them, but they’re going to do that anyway so you might as well have a system. My Lists have earned me many a patronising pat on the head but I don’t mind, because I’m not the one who arrives and says, oh no, I didn’t pack x, y or z. The Comforts If you find it hard to relax and enjoy yourself if you’re not comfortable, give yourself permission to bring the things you need to control your environment and be soothed by your favourite comforts. There are comforts you’ll need while travelling, and comforts for when you arrive. You’ll develop your own lists that take care of your particular sensibilities. My travel list includes ear plugs, eye shades, an inflatable camping cushion to relieve pressure on long journeys, layers and a scarf, mints and acupressure bands for travel sickness, lip salve, Rescue Remedy, healthy snacks, bottled water and my mp3 player with soothing music and nature sounds. My chill-out on arrival list includes lightweight jogging bottoms for relaxing in and a foodie treat to look forward to. A client of mine brings her pillow from home – it takes up space but it doesn’t weigh much and ensures that she gets a good night’s sleep. Over the years I’ve honed my lists to provide the perfect balance between having the things I need, without weighing myself down. The Homecoming A happy homecoming starts before you leave. So, even if someone is tapping their watch, take a moment to quickly straighten up the house so it welcomes you when you walk in the door. When you do get home, allow your unpacking to be part of consciously settling back in, with a clear and happy heart. Give yourself time to ground yourself, pottering about, watering the pots in the garden, and opening the mail. Be careful, though, of leaving the unpacking for more than a day. Suitcases waiting to be unpacked are a kind of clutter that can drain your energy. When you come home in this thoughtful way, you support yourself to carry the gifts of your time away into your normal routine. Even if it only lasts a day or two, enjoy that fresh outlook and clarity, and see your life from that perspective. It may have some surprises for you. And that by itself makes going away worth the extra organising that we sensitives have to do. Thanks to Panjee A at Flickr for the image Comments are closed.
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Claire Seabrook Body Mind practitioner Cheltenham |