When we are busy, it is easy to put self-care on the back burner. However, neglecting to care for yourself and your mental health can lead to burnout, negative mental health outcomes, and imbalance in your life. Setting aside a little bit of time to care for yourself, physically and emotionally, can save you time and energy fighting burnout and illness later. Practice these tips to fit self-care into your busy life.
Practicing self-care daily:
- Move your body: moving your body does not have to be an intense and time-consuming workout. You can fit in movement and the endorphins that come with it, even if you only have time for five minutes of stretching or a 10-minute walk around the parking lot on your lunch break. While 30 minutes per day is the sweet spot for most people, moving your body intentionally for less time still has mental and physical health benefits.
- Practice mindfulness: similarly, mindfulness practices do not have to be hour-long sessions of deep meditation. Mindfulness can be as simple as checking in with your body with a body scan for a few minutes each day or doing short guided meditations or breathing exercises.
- Have a wind-down routine: we all know that getting enough sleep is important for our physical and mental health. Having a wind-down routine can help promote a good night’s sleep. Having a relaxing activity to do before bed, away from screens, such as a warm bath, a chapter of a book, or a mindfulness exercise is a great way to prepare to catch some z’s.
- Destress with a relaxing activity: after a tough day, it is important to do something that relaxes you, even if it is small. This can be watching an episode of your favorite TV show, a conversation with someone you care about, or cuddling with a pet.
- Know when to ask for help: if stress, anxiety, or other mental health concerns are consistently getting in the way of your happiness, seeking help from a professional can be a necessary part of self-care.
How Can I Help?
As a counseling intern, I can help you develop positive self-care routines, develop coping strategies for managing stress and other difficult emotions, and develop habits to prevent burnout. Click the scheduling link below to take the first steps.
Peyton Davis
Peyton is a counseling intern accepting new clients in Virginia. Peyton has experience in dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, low self-esteem, and LGBTQ+ concerns.
