Take Care of Yourself this Year
January is almost over and we hope it has been a great start to your 2019! While you’re working on your new year’s resolutions, don’t forget about SELF CARE.
No matter how indulgent this term may sound, self care is actually very important to our mental health. When you are busy and stressed, it is easy to put self care on the back burner. At its core, self care is taking the time to mindfully pay attention to you, your body, and your mental health needs.
Here are a few reasons to practice self care according to VeryWellMind:
- Stress Management – Taking a moment to focus on yourself and your needs allows your body to de-stress.
- Physical Health – Allowing your body to destress positively effects your physical health. Chronic stress is damaging to your health! Self care comes in many forms – including self pampering. While self-pampering doesn’t equate to physical health, it can mitigate your body’s stress responses.
- Emotional Health – A well cared for body can make you feel good about yourself and can foster long-terms feelings of contentedness and well-being.
- It effects those around you! Don’t forget that when you are happier and less stressed, you are more likely to be a better caregiver and more compassionate to those around you!
As counselors, we recommend the practice of self care to avoid burn out and to give yourself the space to practice self compassion. Here are tips from few of our counselors on how to be kinder to ourselves this year:
Self care does not have to be expensive or too time consuming! Here is a great TED Talk on Self Care:
How do you practice self care? Comment below and let us know!
