Parenting Column

By Meagan Ruffing Meagan Ruffing is a new mental health counseling graduate from John Brown University. She is devoting her life to helping others with their well-being as well as her own. Join her in this adventure of self-improvement by investing in yourself.

September is Self-Improvement Month

September may be one of my new favorite months. Once I learned that it was National Self-Improvement month, I was brainstorming ways to sneak in self-care days. I have always been a huge advocate of working on ourselves and with the world looking like it may be going back into COVID-mode, now is the perfect time to make yourself a priority. Whether you work inside the home, from the home, or at a job that takes you away from the home for most of the day, there are some clever ways to fit in good things for yourself.

1. You know that ‘thing’ you have always wanted to do for yourself? Maybe it’s a higher-education class or an art class. Look up the details and sign up for it. You are worth it.

2. Schedule a massage for yourself. If massages aren’t your thing, sign up for a spa treatment that is. It could be something hands-off like scheduling 30 minutes in a sauna. I like to take my calendar out and plan ahead since it’s hard to find places that can fit me in last-minute. 3. Make a coffee date with a friend. I have grand plans to get coffee with my friends a couple of times a month, but sometimes life gets the best of me. It’s a good thing I have a friend in Monett who knows this about me and handles all of our plans together. The time we spend together always fills me up and leaves me in a better place—mentally. 4. Buy yourself a new outfit. This is something I’ve just started doing for myself. Instead of buying a special dessert, I go on the hunt for a cute top or a new pair of comfy pajamas.

Each time I wear my new things, I think of how good I feel in them and how good I feel about myself.

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New covered outdoor venue available! 5. Pick a house project and get started on it. I have had so much fun working on my house and seeing different areas transform into beautiful nooks for me to enjoy. It makes me proud to see my hard work come to life. 6. Take a nap. I’m still working on this. I’ve learned that sleep, good sleep, is really important for your mind. Sleep affects so many parts of ourselves and it’s often the last thing we make time for. If you do anything for yourself after reading this article, download an app called Headspace. It’s a mindfulness app and is great for slowing down and resting. 7. Find a new podcast. This is something I haven’t done yet, but is on my to-do list. Make your moments of extra time work for you. What I mean by that is, during your work commute, while you’re cleaning the house or when you’re getting ready for the day, play your favorite podcast to help give your brain a rest.

This is a great tip for anyone who might be dealing with anxiety. When we can take the focus off of the ‘thing’ or things that are consuming our headspace, it helps stop us from being fixated on that one thing.

I hope you enjoy this September as much as I will be. Be kind to yourself and allow time for rest and relaxation to help with self-improvement. You’ll be glad you did. 