Taking Care of Yourself. Podcast #3 Your Dog Matters

Taking Time: Thirteen Ways to Steady Yourself in Uncertain Times

With a little more time and energy to spare these days, I’ve been returning to something that’s long brought me joy, podcasting and creating video content. It feels like a fresh breeze through the house, airing things out and allowing a new energy to flow in.

In this particular episode, I step slightly aside from my usual focus on dogs, though they’re never far from my heart, and instead speak directly to you. This one is more about you than your dog. It’s about how we steady ourselves, how we find our feet in the middle of all this uncertainty. How we stay grounded and sane while the world wobbles a little on its axis.

The idea for this piece came to me quite spontaneously. One night, just before sleep, I felt a gentle but insistent nudge from within. I opened Notes on my phone and began jotting things down. Thirteen things. Simple, honest points that seemed to surface straight from my own need to re-anchor. Over the next few days I padded them out, but the core remained the same, they were what I needed to hear. And perhaps, just perhaps, they might help you too.

Your own list might look a little different, and that’s perfectly fine. But if you’re looking for a place to begin, or something to reflect on with a cup of tea in hand, here’s mine:

1. To be happy, it’s what we’re here for.
Despite everything going on, we still get to aim for happiness. Not forced smiles or false cheer, but real happiness. The kind that bubbles up when we remember to look for the good. The kind that emerges in quiet moments when we allow it. Even now, especially now, we can give ourselves permission to pursue joy.

2. To create periods of staying busy.
Letting your mind idle for too long in these conditions can lead you down some bleak roads. Busy doesn’t mean frantic. It just means giving your hands or mind something constructive to do. Plant something, fix something, read, write, learn, paint, clean, build, or just tinker. Do it for the joy, not the outcome.

3. To build in periods of exercise.
Movement shifts mood. It doesn't need to be a big production, a brisk walk, a stretch in the garden, dancing around the kitchen. Whatever makes your body feel alive and connected. That movement is a signal to yourself, I’m still here, and I’m choosing to participate.

4. To build in mindful relaxation.
Stillness is its own kind of medicine. A daily moment, ten minutes, even five, of mindful breathing or guided meditation can create a sense of inner space that we so desperately need right now. The world is noisy. Your nervous system is listening. Give it some peace.

5. To allow time for doing absolutely nothing.
Not relaxing. Not meditating. Not recharging. Just doing nothing. Sitting, watching, existing. No pressure to “make use of the time.” Let yourself just be. It’s okay. It’s more than okay, it’s healing.

6. To create.
Make something. Anything. Write a poem. Sketch something silly. Bake bread. Start a journal. Even if nobody sees it, even if it doesn’t “go anywhere,” the act of creating puts you in touch with something primal and real. It’s you saying, “I am alive, and I express myself.”

7. To spend time with those who matter.
Connect. Reach out. Whether it’s with someone in your home, over the phone, or via video, those conversations can restore your sense of human warmth and belonging. Be silly. Be deep. Be real. This is the time to tend to relationships like small fires, feed them gently and regularly.

8. To savour food.
Not just eat it. Savour it. Prepare something slowly, with love. Set the table. Sit down properly. Share it if you can. Food has always been a gathering point for humans, make it sacred again, even if it’s just beans on toast done right.

9. To be present.
Peace isn’t found in what was or what might be. It’s here, now. Try not to ruminate on the past or project fear into the future. Bring your awareness to this breath, this task, this moment. It’s all we truly have, and it’s where all the good stuff lives.

10. To reflect on the next chapter.
This time, disruptive though it is, can also be clarifying. What do you want the next season of your life to look like? What will you rebuild, refine, or release? Let your vision rise slowly. It’s okay not to have the answers yet. Just let the questions breathe.

11. To express gratitude.
There’s real power in naming the good things. A warm cup of tea. A quiet afternoon. Laughter. Clean sheets. Your dog curled at your feet. Gratitude doesn’t deny reality, it simply brings balance to the picture. What we focus on grows.

12. To limit media exposure.
Yes, stay informed. No, don’t marinate in fear all day. There’s a vast difference between staying updated and being overwhelmed. If your nervous system feels fried, give yourself a break. You’re allowed to turn it off and go do something beautiful instead.

13. To care for yourself so you can care for others.
This one ties it all together. You can’t pour from an empty cup. Whether you’re parenting, partnering, working, volunteering, or just trying to be a decent human in the world, start by tending your own wellbeing. The better you feel, the better care you can offer, to everyone, including your dog.

So there it is. Thirteen touchpoints. Thirteen ways to gently guide yourself through tough times. They’re not rules, not requirements, just invitations. Think of them as soft lanterns along a path. Some days you might only follow one or two. Other days, you might tick off six without even realising. It’s not about perfection. It’s about presence.

And if all else fails, sit with your dog. They’re very good at a few of these, you know, especially being present, doing nothing, and enjoying food.

Takeaway Reflection
Ask yourself, What does today need most? Not what the news demands, or what the world shouts. What do you need? A stretch? A chat? A laugh? A nap? Pick one. Start there. And let the day unfold with a little more kindness toward yourself.