Effective Ways to Practice Self-Care
Many of us spend our days depleting ourselves. Pouring ourselves into our careers, families, friendships, and communities. Culture encourages the “grind” mentality. Exhaustion and burnout are equated to hardwork and perseverance; however, this way of living can become damaging to your physical, emotional, and mental health.
Brené Brown, a researcher and author says, “It takes courage to say yes to rest and play in a culture where exhaustion is seen as a status symbol.”
Self care is an act of courage. Self care is the act of intentionally investing in your emotional, physical, and mental health. The past 2 years have highlighted how heavy life can get and why it's important we find a way to prioritize caring for ourselves.
Many people have the idea that self care means a spa day or taking a bubble bath, but one of the best parts about self care is its uniqueness to the individual and what they may need at that current moment. As a mom and a therapist, self care for me means setting boundaries with my loved ones around my “quiet time” so that I can intentionally give my mind and body what it needs that day. For an adolescent feeling overstimulated and overwhelmed after a day at school, self care can look like going for a run or walk.
If you know you are in need of implementing some self care practices, but don’t know where to start here are some examples:
Connecting with friends over a cup of coffee or lunch
Spending time meditating or practicing mindfulness
Healthier eating habits
Getting in a workout
Taking a nap
Setting emotional boundaries for yourself
Spend time journaling
Take a 15 minute walk outside
This blog post was written by Kelsey Stout, LAPC.
Disclaimer: This blog is not intended to substitute professional therapeutic advice. Talk with your healthcare provider about your health concerns and before starting or stopping therapies. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct professional advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
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