Is going for a bath the new meditation?

When I was younger, I used to be a water baby.  Always in the pool for endless hours, no doubt driving my mum mad, my fingers getting all pruney and developed well pronounced tan lines.  The water for me was my happy place.  Somewhere I could go and just have fun, let my worries slip away and allow my body to relax.

As I grew older though, I wasn’t going to the pool as much, the beach had become all too hard as I hated the sand and so I moved away from it.

Little did I realise that the water was helping me regulate.  It was reminding my body to slow down and realign with what I needed most to help and support me.

After we received the diagnosis, of course my body and my mind went into fight or flight, and I simply wasn’t listening to the cues.  I was becoming increasing dysregulated unable to realign, unable to give my body and mind what it so desperately needed.

I remember when I first decided to run myself a bath post diagnosis.  It was probably 3 or 4 years afterwards.  I was craving the warm water of the bath.  As soon as I got in, I instantly remembered why I loved baths so much.  The warmth (or if you’re anything like me, the very hot water) was like giving me a big hug.  Allowing my brain to decompress and I could just stop.  For that very moment it could just be about me and me alone.  I wasn’t required to get food for anyone, take anyone to the bathroom nor did I have to think of my endless to do list.

I would soak in that tub for a good hour.  Sometimes I cried.  Sometimes I prayed.  And sometimes I just was.

As parents of autistic children, we all know far too well that self-care gets booted to the bottom of the list very quickly because there are more important things to deal with……. rather than your mental health.  But I’m here to tell you – if you’re not taking care of your mental health, no one else will and then you won’t have the strength you need to be able to care for your child.

We don’t think about eating good food because we know it will nourish our bodies.  We don’t scoff at someone for taking a sick day if they are sick, so why are we not using our own resources to help ourselves when we need it most.

I have a ritual, every Sunday, late afternoon/early evening you will find me running my weekly bath.  Everyone in my family knows that this is my time.  Hubby knows to entertain the kids during that time because that is when I’m recharging for the week.  Filling my cup.

What do you do for self-care?  How do you look after yourself?  How do you ensure that your cup is full?

If this resonates with you, please book in a free chat to discuss further.

And remember You Are Seen.