Trains of Thought

This week's intern webinar is focused on self-care for the music therapist.

It's coming at a particularly difficult time for me as I am having anxiety attacks about everything from pneumonia, surgery happening in two weeks, and going back to work. I need to practice what I'm going to preach to the interns who will be present during the webinar.

I need to make and follow a self-care plan for this week. I need to figure out how to do this and then do it.

First, I'm going to identify all of the things that are currently interfering with my self-care.
  • surgery in two weeks IF I get over the pneumonia currently happening
  • the pneumonia currently happening
  • not having any energy
  • uncertainty
  • being alone for long periods of time over the past two weeks
  • constant coughing
I tend to be a planner, so now it's time to start figuring out how to fix these things.

Second, what can I do to work with these things that are interfering with my self-care...
  • pneumonia - continue to take my medications, go to the doctor, and rest as much as possible...
  • make plans for my enforced time away from work in two weeks...
  • be around other people to get in some socialization
  • discuss my anxiety with my family members - those that know me best...
Third, what will I do when I need help with something...
  • identify those in my life who want to help
  • ask them for assistance as needed
  • be okay with asking and accepting assistance
Self-care is something that has to be practiced and made into a routine. It is easy to practice self-care when it is a part of what you do everyday, every week, every month. When something happens to interrupt that routine, self-care becomes even more important. That's the time when self-care becomes essential. I've been practicing one form of self-care lately - sleeping, staying home when sick - but, I've also let other parts of my routine go.

It's time for a new routine.

Today, I am going to go to work. I am going to interact with other people. I'm going to come home if I start to cough in spasms. I am going to spend time planning for my time off in two weeks. I am going to focus on my breathing.

That's not enough, but it's a start.

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