Today I’m delighted to have Yolanda G. Smith, RN, MSN – Holistic Self-Care: Just For Me, Inc. as my guest. She’s a Holistic Nurse Educator Specializing in Self–Care, Wellness, and Healthy Lifestyles in Brooklyn, New York. Striving for a life of wellness is a great gift of love to you. The better you feel, the more self-empowered you become. Since I left DoorMatville, optimum health–body, mind and spirit has been my top priority. It spills over into every area of life. Yolanda shares her personal story of how she learned the hard way how important it is to strive for overall wellness, and she shares some of the tips that she gives to her clients.

Wellness, Optimal Health and Self–Care
by Yolanda G. Smith, RN, MSN

Lets begin with a Wellness Quiz? Do you:
• Do you wake up with enthusiasm for the day ahead?
• Do you have the high energy you need to do what you want?
• Do you laugh easily, especially at yourself?
• Do you confidently find solutions for the challenges in your life?
• Do you feel valued and appreciated?
• Do you appreciate others and let them know it?
• Do you have a circle of warm, caring friends?
• Do the choices you make every day get you what you want?

How many times did you answer “No” to these questions? As women we are excellent care providers, we are dedicated, committed, compassionate, determined, and conscientious while giving care to our friends, family, children, colleagues, significant others but find it extremely difficult to give the same loving unconditional care to ourselves. Women often take care of the needs of others at their own expense. We are constantly putting the oxygen mask on others while leaving ourselves deprived of vital energy thereby not having enough energy to holistically care for ourselves—mind—body and soul/spirit. It is considered altruistic when caring for others and selfish when taking care of you first.

I was forced to make a decision to start taking better care of myself when my mind body and spirit STOPPED ME and said “I cannot allow you to continue this day.”

It was August 6, 2004 when my life all changed in a flash!

While teaching a Critical Thinking Workshop with 25 nurses, we did role playing. I became acutely confused, disoriented with a subsequent loss of memory. I was hospitalized at the facility I was lecturing. After four days of extensive neurological testing, laboratory work, medication therapy and sleep, I was diagnosed with sensory overload. All the testing results were negative. While growing my first business (YGS Medical–Legal Consulting), I did not have balance in my life. I was working 15-hours days, six days per week. I focused my attention on fulfilling the needs of others and running my successful business—ultimately losing my identity to my business. I did not practice self–care activities, nor nurture, cherish and love myself first.

My journey to Wellness – Optimal Health and Self–Care…
I personally took my time in discovering what wellness – well–being meant to me. That it’s my choice and I must make it my way of life.

I have learned as women, we are very good at managing stress at work, at home and in our personal lives. In fact we are so good, we do not realize when we are having our own emotional reactions to the stress. Stress reactions have become our norm! Whether it’s healthy eating, better sleep habits, more control over your time, exercise, managing your stress, dealing with clutter or learning to say “NO”, it’s all about self-care – putting yourself first and investing time and effort into your own health and well-being.

I have learned that no one can do it for you! You have to make the decision and do it. You must come to the realization that you are worthy of living a healthy happy balanced joyous well life – everyday. You are the only one who can make that happen. It has to be an internal drive of love – of compassion for yourself that will empower you to implement self care practices just for you every day.

This is the process by which I changed my life. In January 2007, I Founded Holistic Self–Care: Just For You, Inc.

I utilized my life experiences and founded Holistic Self–Care: Just For You, Inc with a focus on Self–Care Essentials For Women, Wellness, Health Promotion – Compassion Fatigue and Stress Management Educational programs, workshops, teleconferences, retreats and spa days.

I developed a “Holistic Self–Care Wellness Model © 2007”, with Self–Care Essentials: Mind, Body and Spirit as its core. The foundation of my model is to assist individuals in creating a balanced healthy life by integrating eight essential elements: Work/Career, Emotional Self, Mental Self, Relationships, Intimacy, Physical Body, Finances and Soul/Spirit. The fundamental components of my Holistic Self–Care Wellness Model are the interconnectedness of wellness, holism, health, health promotion and self–care with a core focus on the integration of Self–Care Essentials: Mind – Body and Spirit.

I now believe lifestyle changes can be facilitated through a combination of efforts to enhance awareness, change behaviors and create environments that support good health practices. The foundation of my model is to create a balanced integrated healthy life by focusing on seven essential areas:

The Process: Self-Care Integrated Areas
• Your Emotional and Mental Self • Getting in touch with true feelings and thoughts by expressing them freely and honestly.

• Relationships • Committing to more authentic and honest communication.

• Intimacy • Experiencing more caring, pleasure and trust within intimacy.

• Your Physical Body • Learning to love, nurture and care for your structural body by enhancing the five senses.

• Finances • Believing that you can create greater prosperity with an integrated balanced personal life.

• Work and Career • Balancing and integrating the drive for success with a happy personal life.

• Your Soul and Spirit • Developing a vital and personal spiritual path by your relationship with yourself, a Higher Power, life purpose and creativity.

As a Holistic Nurse Educator – I recommend the following tips for creating and maintaining holistic health:
1. Body: achie
ving an optimum state of physical health is due to an ongoing commitment to three factors: diet/nutrition, exercise and environmental awareness.

2. Mind: achieving optimum mental health as a condition of peace of mind, contentment, positive beliefs and attitudes.
Self–Care Activities: affirmations, breathwork, journaling, and conscious laughter.

3. Spirit: achieving optimum spirit health refers to your belief in a Higher Power, honoring yourself and your inner knowing.
Self–Care Activities: prayer, meditation, yoga, Tai Chi, spending time in nature and showing gratitude.

In honor of the 9th Annual National Women’s Health Week, I am offering a
complimentary 60–minute teleconference “Self–Care Essentials For Women: Top 10 Ways To Live A Longer, Healtheir Life”.

Please register at Holistic Self-Care: Just For Me, Inc.

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