Renewing Your Mind, Body, Heart, and Soul: A Guide to Self-Care

1. Habit 7 Sharpen the Saw It’s Me Time

2. Sharpen the saw? • Sometimes we are too busy to take time to do the things we need to do to keep fresh. • We need to regularly renew and strengthen 4 key areas • The Body • The Brain • The Heart • The Soul

3. Balance all 4 areas • If your tires are out of balance, all 4 will not wear evenly • It’s hard to be friendly (heart) when you’re exhausted (body) • When you are motivated and in tune with yourself (soul) , it’s easier to focus on your studies (mind) and to be more friendly (heart)

4. The Physical Dimension • Exercise, eat healthy, sleep well and relax • Eat healthy food -take walks • Relax in the tub -stretch out • Bike -do aerobics • Lift weights -practice yoga • Get enough sleep -play sports

5. You are what you eat • Eat in moderation • Don’t travel between rabbit food and junk food all the time • Drink water • Food affects mood, so eat with care

6. Use it or lose it • Choose an activity that you enjoy doing and don’t dread • Try to get 30 minutes of exercise 3x/week • Good way to relieve stress and clear your mind

7. It’s all about how you feel and not how you look in the mirror or the weight on the scale • Don’t get too obsessed with your appearance • There are many successful people who do not have perfect bodies • It is more important to feel good physically • If you struggle with an eating disorder, don’t feel alone • “You have to change your perception. It’s not about weight, it’s caring for yourself daily”

8. Caring for your brain • Sharpen your mind • Getting a good education may be the most important thing you can do • Develop brain power through schooling, extracurricular activities, hobbies, jobs, and other mind enlarging activities

9. Read a newspaper everyday Travel Plant a garden Visit a library Write a story Solve puzzles Play an instrument debate Sharpen your mind

10. Caring for your Heart • Put regular deposits into your personal and relationship bank accounts • Relationships- • Just laugh- sometimes life just stinks and there’s not much you can do about it, so laugh

11. Laughter • Loosens up the mental gears and helps us think more creatively • Helps us cope with the difficulties in life • Reduces stress levels • Relaxes us by lowering HR and BP • Releases endorphins the brain’s natural pain killers

12. Caring for your Soul • Finding what deeply inspires you, finding your inner self where your deepest convictions and values are • How to feed your soul • Meditating • Serving others’ • Praying • Listening to music

13. A preteen’s best friend • You can pour your heart out in your journal and it will sit there and listen. It won’t talk back • A good way to clear your head- become more self-aware. • You can read past entries to keep from making the same mistakes and to see how you have matured

14. Make time to renew • You are already doing many things to renew • All of it won’t just happen though, you have to be proactive