Self Care

When I say self care, what comes to mind? Vacation? Massages? Shopping? Nights out with friends?

While this certainly qualifies as self care, it’s not necessarily the only way to achieve a sense of calm.

Okay. I’m just going to say it. Self care starts with what is going on in your head. Seriously. When I talk to my clients about their mental well being, I almost always start with this sentence: “you’ve got to get in your own corner.” Meaning, you have to start to be kind to yourself in your own head.

So, what does that mean? Imagine you’re at home with a ton of things to do. You feel yourself becoming overwhelmed with anxiety, and have some racing thoughts like “if you don’t get all of this done, the day will be a total failure” or “don’t be selfish and go on a walk/take a lunch today.” Self care starts with becoming aware of how you talk to yourself, and how those comments make you feel. After a barrage of “shoulds and shouldn’ts” we often feel unmotivated, down, and discouraged.

The work starts with bringing your awareness to your thoughts, and then not letting yourself get away with talking to yourself like that. What would you tell a friend who is in a similar situation? What would you like to hear from a loved one? Taking care of yourself is being kind to yourself.

Another way you can invest in your self care is by setting aside time to talk about what’s going on with you at a therapy appointment. If you’re thinking about therapy, therapy is right for you! Give us a call or email us to start your self care journey!

Keep posted for more practical ways to implement self care into your everyday life!

HOMEWORK

Pick a time of day that is harder for you than most. Write yourself a note of what you need to hear to combat negative thoughts. Practice a little self-love!