Week 7: He Restores My Soul - Walk to the Beach Fitness Challenge

Week 7 WTTB Fitness Challenge: He Restores My Soul

Week 7: He Restores My Soul

As we begin Week 7 on Easter Sunday, I encourage all participants to turn in mileage from Week 6. We have had several people to join the challenge in the last few weeks. Anyone is welcome to join the challenge. For directions, visit our 2016 Walk to the Beach Fitness Challenge page.

Healthy Soul: He Restores My Soul

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.

Psalm 23:2-3a

Flight attendants give multiple emergency instructions before the plane takes to the sky. Adults are instructed to place emergency oxygen masks on themselves before placing oxygen masks on children. Why? Because the adult will be better able to help someone else after taking care of oneself first. The same is true for caregivers. Allowing God to minister to us daily can restore our soul and help us to face the day.

It is interesting that God makes us lie down in green pastures. Many of us find relaxation to be difficult, unfathomable, or seemingly torturous if we end up "relaxing" flat in bed due to no choice of our own.

Healthy Mind: Rockingham

Rockingham is the county seat of Richmond County in North Carolina and has a population of close to 10,000. The city was named after the Marquis of Rockingham, who was well liked for encouraging a repeal of the stamp tax in 1766. The Rockingham Speedway is located in the city along with at least ten buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. Several people who have claimed a bit of fame have called Rockingham home, such as Effie Wilder, writer; Melvin Gibson, basketball player and coach; Melvin Ingram, football player; Blind Boy Fuller, early blues artist; and Leon Levine, founder of Family Dollar, to name a few.

Healthy Body: Self-Care

Taking care of oneself reaps numerous benefits for self and others, yet many of us struggle to do this on a regular basis. Lack of self-care can be detrimental to health due to sleep deprivation, lack of healthy eating habits and regular exercise, and lack of follow-up with one's own doctor appointments or recommended treatment. Constant caregivers often experience stress and burnout.

It can be hard to fit in self-care, but the benefits are quite beneficial. Identify triggers that tend to increase stress levels and examine options for different approaches. Utilize communication skills that acknowledge and "own" one's emotions and how they affect us. Exercising 10 minutes a few times a day can produce positive benefits. Identify activities that help reduce stress, such as reading, crafts, gardening, music, art, journaling, etc. Ask for a break: identify family members, friends, church members, respite care options, and those who have offered help. If you are not a caregiver but know someone who is currently caring for someone, consider providing respite on a regular basis. Offering a 2- or 3-hour break once a week or even once a month could make a world of difference to all involved.

Find more tips at the Family Caregiver Alliance: National Center on Caregiving.