Regardless of what a client is presenting with or what their diagnosis is, I like to examine my clients’ wellness or self-care routine. Self-care is the practice of taking care of the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of your life to promote health and wellness. Typically, I am checking in on how their quality of sleep is, how active they are, what their diet is like, and what other things they are doing for themselves. These areas are referred to as “Pillars of Wellness.” These aspects are so important to our overall physical and mental health. It is important to prioritize these “pillars” to create a strong foundation to feel our best and combat stress. Below are some examples of self-care practices that you could start or add to what you are already doing. It’s never too late to start!
Examples of physical self-care:
Prioritizing Hygiene
Eating a healthy diet
Staying hydrated
Getting regular exercise
Improve sleep quality
Taking Vitamin D or other vitamins/supplements
Stretching
Mental self-care:
Daily gratitude exercises
Journaling
Meditation
Using relaxation apps
Yoga
Read a self-help book
Seeking therapy
Engaging in healthy relationships:
Regularly scheduling get togethers (coffee date, going out to dinner, hanging out)
Connecting with community or faith based groups
Volunteering
Joining a special interest group
Spiritual Practices:
Meditation
Spending time in nature
Listening to inspirational music
Going to church
Praying
There are many more things to do to engage in self-care and it can be unique to that individual. Whatever you find joy in, I encourage you to try to regularly treat yourself. The short-term effects of self-care include a reduction in stress levels and an increase in self-worth. The long-term effects of self-care include managing chronic conditions, stress reduction, healthier relationships, and reduced burn out. Engaging in self-care practices is not being selfish, it is improving your quality of life. Choosing to invest time in yourself and improving your practices ultimately has a positive impact on not only you, but those around you.
Amber (Curtin) Kresovich, a Bellefonte native, is a Licensed Professional Counselor who owns a private practice, Mind Over Matter Professional Counseling Services, LLC. Amber has been a counselor since 2007 and has been in private practice since 2016 serving children, adolescents, adults in the area. Check out www.momcounseling.com for more information.