Practice What I Teach...Self Care Edition

​In these Practice What I Teach post, my intention is to take the most frequent tools I provide my clients and put them into practice. In this edition we are talking about self-care.
 
It’s often in the first or second session with a client I ask them about their self-care. “What credits your energy?” “What fills you up?” I make sure we cover this, because therapy is hard and can be draining. So, it’s important to take time to care for yourself.
 
As a person who spends the majority of my day helping others, not only in my profession, but as a mom, it’s also important that I care for myself. That’s when I decided to make a list of what fills my cup and try and incorporate these into my weekly schedule. Most of my self-care is in the span of 10-20 minutes. For longer self-care sessions, I have to be more intentional about finding help with my kids and blocking it on my calendar. It’s a challenge, but I know it makes me better at each role in life. During my list making and practice, I discovered there are two types of self-care. DISCONNECT and CONNECT. Each type is beneficial. Regardless of introvert or extrovert, it’s important to integrate both types of care.

Let me share my definitions and ideas for these two types of self-care. 

Disconnect is an opportunity to be alone. To put the focus and energy on yourself. This can look a variety of ways and I’ll include some examples below. The goal of of disconnecting is to slow-down, quiet your mind and be present.

DISCONNECT

• Take a nap

• Go for a walk in nature

• Journal

• Clean your closet

• Sit still

• Take a bath

• Meditate

• Take a solo trip

• Turn off your devices

• Say no

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Connect is an opportunity to share experiences with others. Shared experience is a fundamental human need. The goal with connecting is to give and receive care with others. 

CONNECT

• Share a meal

• Call a friend

• Cuddle with your pet

• Listen to a podcast

• Crank up the music

• Go to therapy

• Netflix and chill

• Help someone

• Go to church

• Laugh out loud

 
My hope is that you can take at least 2-3 of these ideas and implement them each week. Remember, our ability to make change and do the work is reliant on our energy. Set yourself up for success, by taking care of yourself and filling your cup.
 
Jessica Nickels,
LPC, cPT

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