Welcome to Weekly Topic Saturdays!
Hello all, I pray that your week was filled with joy and love. Welcome back to those who have been with me here at A Golden Dream. For my first-timers, a great big hello there, if you haven't already please check out my previous posts when you get a chance.
Please don't hesitate to join the conversation, there are no right or wrong answers or questions. I'm not proclaiming to know everything, I am simply just discussing and picking topics on things that I personally have gone through and that I know would help someone.
Earlier this week we discussed the importance of taking the time to Get to Know Yourself. In this discussion topic, we will be discussing what it means to have a maintenance plan, what that it consists of, and how we can effectively achieve said plan in our lives.
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10
Let's Get Into It!!
Let's cover some definitions really quickly to really get a better understanding of what we are getting into.
By way of definition self-maintenance or having self-maintenance is the act or process of maintaining oneself; attending to or caring for oneself.
Unlike a Spiritual Maintenance Plan (SMP) that consists of caring for your spiritual needs like your prayer life, your one on one connection with God, fasting, and also reading the bible, creating a Self-maintenance plan is taking care of your physical needs. Just like taking your car in for a routine check-up, having a Self Maintenance Plan ensures that you are working properly and effectively.
We can not be followers of Christ if we are not taking care of our physical bodies. If you missed it, I discussed this in Our Body's Are an Investment post in more detail. God uses everything for our good, that includes our bodies. Our bodies are his property and when it is time he will ask, "Did you use everything that I gave you wisely. "
What would a Maintenance Plan look like?
And how is it different from regular self-care?
Like I said before, self-maintenance is the things or tasks that we do to make sure we are promoting optimal health and working both effectively and efficiently. So what are some things that we do for ourselves each and every day that our bodies need? If you said food and sleep then you're absolutely on the right track. These are some of the things we need to survive. These are necessary tasks, the basic essentials, that we all have to do within a run of a day.
Self-Care, on the other hand, requires a little more effort and intention than self-maintenance. Self-care is making and taking the time to do something you love that ultimately benefits your wellbeing, emotions, health, and yourself as a whole.
Things That Are Self-Maintenance:
Develop a sleep schedule and be consistent.!
Establish healthy eating habits/lifestyles!
Incorporate mental breaks when focusing on a task that demands your attention for a long stretch of time!
Stay on top of doctor's appointments (dental, vision, routine annual checkups)!
Things That Are Self Care:
Spice up your bath time routine by adding bath bombs and essential oils to your bathwater. Scented candles and rose petals for visual effects. Add purpose and intent to your bath time experience. **Not sure where to start? Check out AGD’s Etsy page (here)!
Take a walk outside and enjoy nature!
Journal writing/ journal prompts!
Declutter your room/ workspace!
Wake up 30mins early in the morning and take that time to pray, meditate or reflect!
Do one thing you used to do before that you stopped doing!
Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
1 Corinthians 3:16
Questions To Consider:
1. Do I have a better understanding of what self-care and self-maintenance is?
2. Is self-maintenance sustainable for me?
3. Do I think self-care and self-maintenance are luxuries? Do I see myself doing it?
4. Does my mind, body, and spirit matter to me?
5. What in my life is currently draining me?
6. Do I take care of my body and mind? Do I put my body and mind above the things that
are weighing me down or draining me?
7. How do I know my body is getting emotionally and physically fatigued?
8. Do I listen to my body and give it what it needs?
9. Am I getting enough rest? Or am I just getting sleep? (Getting sleep and getting rest is
completely two different things)
10. Do I self-sabotage?
With Love, always remember to be kind to yourself. Self Care and Self Maintenance are a must. We have to make time for ourselves so that we can refuel, and recharge. So please make sure that you are taking the time to take care of yourself. Love yourself just as much as you love others. Pour just as much energy into you as you would someone else that is in need. It's our responsibility to take care of ourselves so that we can fulfill the things we need to do. Always check in with yourself, your body gives you signs! It whispers to you when it's deprived of something before it starts screaming.
~Just Breathe...A Golden Dream~
Amen.