Peer Group Chat// Being Kind to Ourselves// Thursday 26th October 2023, 7-8:30PM AEDT

Hi Everyone,

Just a reminder that the next Online Peer Group Chat on Being Kind to Ourselves will take place tonight from 7-8:30pm AEDT. As always, for ease of reference, times across Australia are in the graphic and listed below:

WA: 4pm
NT: 5:30pm

SA: 6:30pm

QLD: 6pm

NSW, ACT, VIC & TAS: 7pm

Tonight, you can expect discussion about:

• Challenging negative self-talk & tendencies to be hard on ourselves
• The importance & benefit of being kind to ourselves
• Ways we might be able to be kinder to ourselves

Tagging members who have supported or otherwise interacted with the thread so far as well as those who may be interested to receive a reminder @Snowie @Clawde @Glisten @7cough9 @Shaz51 @Valiant83 @Jacques @Blackbird11 @Captain24 @Appleblossom @chibam @Zoe7 @Badger @LLEW_8431 @Former-Member @ProggyPanther @Jacesther @Eden1919

@TideisTurning a very important subject that has impacted on me greatly.
I will be at my granddaughter’s High School performance 🎭 in Guitar Ensemble.

I look forward to the Post-Group-Chat chat.

Just a reminder that our Peer Group Chat on Being Kind to Ourselves will start in 20 minutes at 7pm here! Everyone is welcome! See you then

Tagging members who have supported or otherwise interacted with the thread so far as well as those who may be interested to receive a reminder: @Snowie @7cough9 @Glisten @Captain24 @Shaz51 @Abner @Bow @Dimity @Eden1919 @tyme @Kittykelly1976 @Kyle1 @Laura4 @Meowmy @Mooma1 @Smiling_Gecko @StuF @ThePeccadillo @Valiant83 @Another @Appleblossom @Bill16 @Emelia8 @EternalFlower @Jewelbox @LL76 @Rockdog @arfid @greenpea @wail @MissLil

Dam I need to check in on here most days and remember when there are groups like this one on, I've missed 2 that would have been great to listen to.

@amber22 I read that we can read them on here somewhere so when I find them it will be good to get some ideas. At least I know now yous have a topic ever Thursday just need to remember time as I'm in Adelaide.

I think it's great having things like this on now as you never used to.

Hey @saturnzoon ,

Since this Peer Group Chat happens every Thursday, I tend to set an alarm so I don't miss it. Otherwise, with so much happening, it's easy to miss.

Hope that suggestion might work for you.

See you around!

Thank you @tyme i didn't think of that.

Hi Everyone,

This week, I wanted to share a few resources with you all about self kindness to cope with stress and building self compassion. Another form of being kind to ourselves might be self-soothing.

Please remember that these are tools and they may or may not work for everyone – the tools are not the rules! I'd encourage you to try a few out to see what might work for you. Along that line, I would love to hear about any strategies and/or tools you use to be kinder to yourself, whether they relate to some of the resources that I've shared or it's something completely different! Also feel free to share any other resources you're aware of if there are any you find particularly helpful 😊

@saturnzoon @Glisten @7cough9 @Snowie @Clawde @ProggyPanther @Former-Member @Valiant83 @Captain24 @chibam @Appleblossom @Shaz51 @lemlem678 @Dyna13 @puzzlingdino @defaultusername

Self-soothing/ Coping tools that have worked for me in the past:

• Journaling
• Breathing exercises
• Exercise
• Singing
• Taking photos of things I love like nature
• Reading
• Listening to podcasts, audiobooks and youtube videos
• Connecting with someone important to me at least once a day
• Art - painting, drawing, craft etc
• Learning & engaging in special interests
• Sleep hygiene - bedtime routine with no screens for minimum 1 hour prior to sleep with going to sleep at a set time. Wakeup routine with no screens for minimum 1 hour upon waking, waking at a specific time everyday.
• Self-check ins (stopping in the moment and asking myself how am i going)
• Laying on Shakti mat & doing stretches
• Shower/Bath
• Brushing teeth
• Spending time with a pet
• Spending time with a loved one
• Hiking
• Swimming
• Eating regular healthy meals
• Doing puzzle games like sudoku, word sleuths etc.
• Watching something that makes me smile or laugh
• Medication review
• Psychology/Counselling appointments
• Scream, cry, punch pillows or bed, stamp feet etc - healthy ways to express big emotions
• Do nothing - rest
• Tidying & cleaning
• Use fidget & sensory tools - burn a candle, play with kinetic sand, fidget spinner or fidget cube, squishy stress balls etc
• Go outside of the house even if it is just to the letter box or into the backyard once a day even just for 5 minutes.
• Make a vision board
• Set daily intentions
• Have some go to affirmations or positive self talk mantras to say to self
• Write down 3 things I am grateful for
• Challenge thoughts & anxiety
• Hug someone or a pet
• Go axe throwing or to a rage room
• Play a game but have a time limit
• Drink at least 1 litre of water
• Go for a trip local or away somewhere like a holiday
• Go to the hairdressers
• Get a massage
• Do a face masque
• Go Fishing
• Go camping
• Do an end of day reflection
• Change bedsheets
• Do laundry
• Cook or eat your favourite meal
• Pace yourself
• Attend a social gathering or event
• D somatic exercises like self havening
• Spend time in nature without technology
• Set time limits for how much technology use whether phone/social media etc
• Listen to some music and/ play an instrument
• Digital declutter - delete unused apps, sort emails etc
• Spring clean and declutter
• Watch the sunset or sunrise

I have more but figure I've already gone over the top haha 😅😂

This seems like a really comprehensive and well considered list @lemlem678. Thank you so much for sharing with us! I'm really curious though, what do you find is the benefit of not engaging with screens for an hour when you wake up? I have heard of limiting screen time before sleep, but limiting screen time immediately after waking is not something I've heard of before, so just curious, as I said 😊

I think for me, a huge act of being kind myself is definitely validation and acknowledgement of what I’m experiencing. An added bonus is if someone can reflect why I might be feeling the way I am. I want to note here as well though, that with practice, I feel like this is also something we can learn to do for ourselves!

@Appleblossom @Moon_light_lion @Glisten @Snowie @Captain24

@TideisTurning The no screens for an hour upon waking is because in the first few hours of waking what we engage with can really impact our mood for the rest of the day. So say if we went to our emails or social media first thing and we read a post the is sad or negative or bad news then it can impact us the rest of the day or waking up to see a heap of notifications or emails can be overwhelming too.

I can't remember where I read it but it was basically when we first are waking up the brain wave state we are in is highly suggestable so our first hour of waking and what we do can really set the tone for the day. I'm sure if you googled it some articles would come up about it. Neuroscience is quite interesting.