Self-care means something different to everyone, but its function remains the same. Self-care aims to restore and/or nurture our physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional needs. It’s also proven to help deter illness! Stress, exhaustion, and overworking your body can really do a number on the body, so taking preventative measures to care for your day-to-day wellbeing can work wonders for your long-term health. A silver lining of the pandemic has been that a spotlight is glaringly pointed at our need to slow down and practice more self-care, so how do we do that?
First, it’s important to recognize where your self-care focus would benefit you most.
Are you feeling emotionally drained? Tense and tired in your body? Exhausted by a never-ending stream of thoughts or worries? Feeling out of touch with your spiritual side? Navigating your needs and identifying which cup, or cups, need to be filled can help you better understand which type of self-care can be most nourishing for you. For example, a nap might help someone who needs to physically rest their body, but perhaps wouldn’t be too beneficial for someone craving more spiritual connection.
If you find yourself in a highly emotional place, it can feel pretty scary.
You may be wondering “Why did I just lose my cool on that cashier for taking too long?” or “Why am I crying while nothing, in particular, feels sad?” These might be signs you need to take a moment, understand how you’re feeling, and practice a little emotional self-care. Having a support system in your life to reach out to can be a great way to have your emotional needs cared for. Venting to a friend, family member, coworker, or any person in your life you feel comfortable sharing your feelings with can help unload a bit of your weight and help you feel supported. Building and strengthening emotional connections with those around you can help you feel less alone and more seen. Journaling is another great way to shed some emotional weight and get more in tune with your needs.
How often do you realize your shoulders are raised up? Or your eyebrows are furrowed?
Sometimes, simply noticing your body can help to identify your need for some physical self-care. This could mean a massage, putting on some of your favorite lotions, changing your diet to include different foods, going for a walk, doing some breathing exercises, taking a day off from work, or developing a more ideal sleep routine. All of these can help to focus on your physical self and allow it time to reset.
Spirituality is subjective from person to person, but how do you experience it?
Whether it’s a connection to the universe, a higher power or simply existing in the world… how do you practice spiritual self-care? With many places of worship not offering in-person gatherings right now, it might feel hard to stay connected to that part of your spirituality. Luckily, there are many offerings online for anyone seeking specific worship or education. Practicing spiritual self-care can also mean spending more time outside, within your own mind or reading books or articles. You can also connect with other like-minded people in your inner circle or community to reflect and connect on a spiritual level.
Finding yourself unable to focus, remember tasks, or engage with others? You might need some psychological self-care.
When intrusive thoughts or mental fatigue leave you feeling drained, there are ways to practice self-care to focus on your mental health. Journaling is a great way to ground yourself and reflect on how you’ve been feeling, eating, sleeping, and experiencing the world to get a deeper understanding of your needs. Making time for relaxation and giving yourself permission to do nothing is another great way to “turn off” and let your mind rest. Boundary setting at work can be another helpful way to care for your mental health, so try to turn off your work email notifications or texts outside of work hours if possible.
Self-care, though more commonly discussed than ever before, is one of the most underestimated ways to keep yourself healthy and able to thrive.
Being more intentional with how you practice your self-care can more efficiently help to reset your mind and body to optimal functioning and help you to live more authentically. If you’ve tried to practice self-care and find yourself still needing help, counseling can be a wonderful tool to help uncover how to best care for your needs (and can be self-care in itself!). Shifting the focus away from work, family, and other responsibilities and towards yourself can be difficult, and we understand. We are here to support you in your self-care journey and help you live a more present and fulfilled life.
Ready to Start Therapy To Help You Master Self-Care in Florida?
Beginning the journey to your best self is easier than most of the things we’re all doing right now! Therapy does not have to wait. You can get the mental health support you need with a skilled therapist in St. Pete or with online therapy in Florida. To begin, just follow these simple steps:
- Contact us to request an appointment
- Meet with one of our experienced therapists.
- Get support & begin your journey toward mental wellness & connection today!
Other Mental Health and Wellness Services at ME-Therapy
At ME-Therapy, we believe in the importance of mental, emotional & physical wellbeing. Our therapists want to help your mind but also want to feed your soul. This means we take a holistic approach to mental health. In order to do this, we offer a wide range of mental health services in our St. Petersburg office and online including therapy for women, therapy for men, trauma therapy, and holistic, spiritual therapy. For couples and relationships, we want you to know that our relationship therapists are here for you ALL. In addition to marriage counseling, we provide sex therapy, affair recovery counseling, and poly-friendly kink-aware therapy.
