what I need to live, to cope, and to thrive: notes for self-care and usermanual reference
Things I need to be alive:
enough sleep -- about 7 hours a night
at least 64 oz of clean water a day
healthy, live food with enough protein and potassium and little bad stuff
physical activity (doesn't have to be intense, just has to be enough to get my blood all freshened up)
sunlight (Georgia usually gives me enough but I have to seek it out in the winter)
the freedom to be alone as often as I like, for as long as I like
meaningful connection with other humans
Things to help me cope when I'm having a hard time:
watching something that makes me laugh without making me hate the world (a hard thing to find!)
distraction by pretty things (movies with beautiful settings, Guild Wars 2)
going out and getting coffee, then enjoying it somewhere other than home
going out in nature, especially if someone else drives to the place, especially around big trees
tidying my space, especially with company
shopping for used books and/or crafting supplies
being petted, especially receiving foot rubs
someone holding space for me to be sad/hurting
Things I need to be completely fulfilled (I can live without any of these things but if too many are missing, I will slowly be drained of all energy):
people I love (who also make me feel safe) asking me prying questions
active connection with spirit-kin (like Topaz, Hannah, Kylei)
active connection with heart-kin (like Serenity, Sande, Sydney, Arizona)
active connection with soul-kin (like Kat, Adi, Nea, Heather, Felix)
active connection with mind-kin (like Kate, Elizabeth, Allison)
thoughtful, emotionally-present and mutually-generous cuddles at least 4 hours per week
emotionally-present kissing and/or sex with someone I'm (mutually) in love with
regular, emotionally-present eye contact with people I love and trust
a self-date at least once a week for at least five hours
writing in my journal at least every other day
making art at least monthly
productive crafty parties
intimacy practices
consciously opening my spiritual awareness, regularly
being effusively loving and close with multiple people
taking photos (incl. and esp. self-portraits) or making fractals at least weekly, and sharing them at least monthly
being 'out' in as many ways as possible to as many people as possible (any hiding makes me feel less myself)
going to see live music at least every other month, preferably monthly
listening to my favorite artists at least 8 hours a week (in the car or at home)
raising plant babies
having a tidy home and car
(inspired by rextrocular's usermanual post)
enough sleep -- about 7 hours a night
at least 64 oz of clean water a day
healthy, live food with enough protein and potassium and little bad stuff
physical activity (doesn't have to be intense, just has to be enough to get my blood all freshened up)
sunlight (Georgia usually gives me enough but I have to seek it out in the winter)
the freedom to be alone as often as I like, for as long as I like
meaningful connection with other humans
Things to help me cope when I'm having a hard time:
watching something that makes me laugh without making me hate the world (a hard thing to find!)
distraction by pretty things (movies with beautiful settings, Guild Wars 2)
going out and getting coffee, then enjoying it somewhere other than home
going out in nature, especially if someone else drives to the place, especially around big trees
tidying my space, especially with company
shopping for used books and/or crafting supplies
being petted, especially receiving foot rubs
someone holding space for me to be sad/hurting
Things I need to be completely fulfilled (I can live without any of these things but if too many are missing, I will slowly be drained of all energy):
people I love (who also make me feel safe) asking me prying questions
active connection with spirit-kin (like Topaz, Hannah, Kylei)
active connection with heart-kin (like Serenity, Sande, Sydney, Arizona)
active connection with soul-kin (like Kat, Adi, Nea, Heather, Felix)
active connection with mind-kin (like Kate, Elizabeth, Allison)
thoughtful, emotionally-present and mutually-generous cuddles at least 4 hours per week
emotionally-present kissing and/or sex with someone I'm (mutually) in love with
regular, emotionally-present eye contact with people I love and trust
a self-date at least once a week for at least five hours
writing in my journal at least every other day
making art at least monthly
productive crafty parties
intimacy practices
consciously opening my spiritual awareness, regularly
being effusively loving and close with multiple people
taking photos (incl. and esp. self-portraits) or making fractals at least weekly, and sharing them at least monthly
being 'out' in as many ways as possible to as many people as possible (any hiding makes me feel less myself)
going to see live music at least every other month, preferably monthly
listening to my favorite artists at least 8 hours a week (in the car or at home)
raising plant babies
having a tidy home and car
(inspired by rextrocular's usermanual post)