Taking Care of You
I get it, we’ve all been there. You are killing it at your job. You are putting out fires everywhere. You are going on an amazing vacation. You have built a family you adore. To everyone looking at your life, you have it all…so why does it feel like you are trying to hold onto water?
We get so conditioned that taking time for ourselves is selfish, and that we have to hold everything up on our own. We’re the fixers, we’re reliable, we know how to get things done. We’re also very stressed. It’s often said that self care is just a matter of taking a bubble bath or getting a pedicure. Yes, these things can bring on some much needed relaxation, but self care is so much more than that. Self care isn’t just doing something that seems indulgent, it should be a lifestyle.
Self care is about finding what truly brings you joy and fulfillment, where you feel like you can recharge and give your energy in all the places you wish to, and have a bank to pull from. It’s figuring out the places where we need to be focusing our energy, and what we need to feel balanced and healthy.
Not sure where to begin? Try exploring these questions:
Which relationships help me feel fulfilled?
Where do I feel most valued, even if I am not “bringing something to the table”?
How does my body feel?
Where do I want to be spending my time?
Where do I feel free to be myself? To fail?
What do I feel like I need to find balance?
Self care isn’t just about doing a one time thing, but choosing to restore ourselves so we can be present in the other areas of our lives. It’s building a lifestyle that allows us to reset, refill, and re-engage. Not choosing ourselves can easily lead to burnout, and cost us more than just our peace of mind…but more on that next time.
I hope you find some time just for you this week, and that you can do something that feels truly restorative. Make time for walks, weed your garden, call that friend you keep meaning to make time for, snuggle with your kids or your pups, call to set up that therapy appointment. Choose it because it brings fulfillment to your day.
Feel like you would like to learn more about how to balance? Does it seem like these questions are too hard to answer, or you don’t know where to begin? You don’t have to figure this out on your own, and counseling is great place to explore how to begin.
Kerri Gallen is a mental health professional in St. Louis, Missouri. She specializes in treating high school students, college students, and adults struggling with anxiety, depression, and life’s transitions. You can contact her office by phone: 314-967-5439 or email: kerri@gallencounseling.com.