The Importance of Self Care and Helpful Resources
It is important for everyone, not just therapists, to evaluate their personal well-being. This can be difficult when your job (or internship) is focused on the success of others especially when it seems there is always a huge list of things to do. I was reminded this week that I need to take some time for myself, even if that means changing my to do list around for that week. In any situation where you are working with others, if you yourself are not taken care of, how do you expect to help guide others in a successful way? I think every so often it is important to be mindful of what you need physically, psychologically, emotionally, spiritually, in relationships, and in the workplace. Taking a few minutes to write down my needs in each area has been helpful. Below I have attached a simple form to help you write a Self Care Plan from REACHOUT.com. When I did this alongside my coworkers I was able to see the areas I am lacking in, and also heared ideas of how to improve them from other coworkers. If you are doing this on your own, to get some ideas check out the link below where you can find the self care plan and other resources.
Another idea to help you stay mindful of self-care is to put a sticky note on your mirror in the bathroom or in a place that you will see it every day as a reminder of what you want to do each day to feel balanced. This can help you to just take a second to take a few deep breaths or remind you to make time to exercise, eat well, or maybe even just talk with a friend or family member on the phone. Another way to be mindful and take some time to relax can be done through listening to relaxation tracks from YouTube, or using an app like Headspace. This can even be beneficial for your clients as well, so below I am sharing a video, The Headspace app/website and a few scripts that you can use for relaxation.
Self Care plan and Further Information:
https://schools.au.reachout.com/articles/developing-a-self-care-plan
Relaxation Track: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86HUcX8ZtAk
Headspace (Check this awesome website out): https://www.headspace.com/
Scripts for Relaxation: https://hubpages.com/health/Progressive-Muscle-Relaxation-Script
https://hubpages.com/health/Guided-Imagery-Forest-Script
Happy Mindfulness,
Emily Kent
