Mental health | Tips for self-care from an online therapist in North Carolina
Self-care is a hot topic these days. People are learning more about how to take care of themselves and build self-care habits in their lives. But what does that mean? I’m here to share some ideas from my work as an online therapist in North Carolina. These are things that have helped me stay centered and stable during stressful times, and they might help you too!
Self-care isn’t just about bubble baths.
Self-care isn’t just about bubble baths. It’s not a one-size-fits-all concept, and it’s not something that happens once or twice a year. Self-care is an ongoing process of taking care of your mental, physical, and emotional health.
It’s about being kind to yourself instead of harsh or critical. If you find yourself being hard on yourself for making mistakes, take a moment and remember that we’re all human and make mistakes sometimes—it doesn’t mean anything more than that!
It’s about taking time for yourself so that you can recharge when you feel like you’ve been running around with your head cut off (which happens more often than one might think). Downtime is essential for the human body; it allows us time to be present in our bodies rather than caught up in our minds worrying about the future or ruminating over past events we wish hadn’t happened.”
Get enough sleep.
To maintain a healthy mental state, it’s important that you get enough sleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation, adults should aim for seven to nine hours of sleep every night. If you’re not sure where all that time is going or how to make sure you get enough rest, check out these tips:
- Have a wind-down routine before bedtime. A good way to make sure that your body knows when it’s time for sleep is by having a set routine before bedtime. For example, after a hot shower or bath (or even just taking off makeup), take an empty glass and listen as it fills with cold water from the sink faucet until the sound changes from running water into falling water; then place your fingers on top of the glass and watch them sparkle like stars in the night sky as they’re illuminated by sunlight peeking out from behind clouds floating past overhead windowsills above your head—and so on…
Check-in with your feelings and see if you’re getting everything you need from your network.
If you find yourself stuck in a rut, check in with your feelings and see if you’re getting everything you need from your network. If not, it’s time to reach out for more support. Seeking out support is an important step towards taking care of yourself—and it doesn’t have to be scary!
- Friends and family can provide a close-knit circle of support during difficult times. If they have been there for you before, they are likely to return the favor. Friends can also share resources with each other that may be useful when times get tough: “Hey John,” says Sally, “my sister went through something similar last year; let me send her number over so she can talk with you about what happened.” In this way, friendships grow deeper as people learn how to support each other even further than before.*
- When seeking help from professionals (therapists or counselors), make sure that the person understands how much time is needed for self-care versus work/family obligations before signing on their dotted line. Many in-person and online therapists require contracts limiting the number of hours a week they are available for therapy so as not to overburden themselves with too many clients at once—which helps both parties avoid burnout.*
Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you have a trusted friend or family member, talk with them about what you’re going through. Sometimes it can be easier to open up to someone who doesn’t know us as well: they may see things that others don’t and offer different perspectives on how we can get through our situation. Despite being so close, they may not fully understand our experiences, so we must ask ourselves if there is someone else in our life who would be better suited to help us through this difficult time?
If no one comes to mind, don’t hesitate to reach out online or speak with an online therapist like myself! I’ve been trained specifically on how best to practice online therapy using technology such as video chat and text messaging apps like WhatsApp or FaceTime (Apple).
When you feel a little more stable, think of ways to build more stability into your life.
When you feel a little more stable, think of ways to build more stability into your life. Think about what works for you and make a list of practices that are easy to integrate into your day. For example, if reading is something that relaxes you, then set aside time every night before bed to read for twenty minutes. If going for a run helps get out of your head and gives you energy, try running during lunch or after work three days a week. If taking care of yourself is important but can be difficult when things are busy at work or home, develop routines that help ensure self-care happens even when there’s no time for it (e.g., setting an alarm on your phone or computer every hour or two throughout the day).
Talk to someone who will give you their full attention.
Talking to someone who will give you their full attention is one of the most valuable things we can do for ourselves. If you have a friend or family member who isn’t in crisis, this may be an option. However, sometimes we need more than just support from another person; sometimes we also need professional help from an online therapist.
If so, please look for a therapist that matches your needs and schedule by using our directory here: https://therapists.talkspace.com/search
We also offer online therapists throughout North Carolina and nationwide! You can find more information about them here: https://therapists.talkspace.com/cities
Journaling is a powerful part of self-care.
Journaling, or keeping a diary, is one of the most powerful ways to take care of yourself. It can help you identify what’s important and what isn’t. Journaling can also help you identify what causes stress in your life, whether it’s an upcoming event or something more serious. Finally, journaling can be used to identify what doesn’t cause stress in your life: maybe there are some things that are stressing you out and causing anxiety that isn’t worth worrying about; by identifying these things and writing them down, you’ll have a clearer head when it comes time for making decisions.
Make a list of what’s most important to you and make sure the things on that list get enough of your attention and energy.
I think it’s important to recognize that self-care isn’t just about taking care of your physical body, but also about taking care of yourself as a person. I know for me, one thing that has helped me feel better and more at peace is making sure I spend enough time doing things that are meaningful to me.
One way you can do this is by making a list of what’s most important to you, then making sure those things get enough attention from yourself. A few examples might include:
- Getting a good night’s sleep every night
- Eating healthy meals regularly
- Getting regular exercise
- Having some social interaction with friendly people
Building self-care into your life will help you stay centered throughout the day, especially when stressors come up.
Self-care is an important part of mental health and emotional well-being. At its most basic, self-care means doing things that you find relaxing or enjoyable. In a way, it’s a way to take care of yourself so that you can be in good shape for whatever life throws at you.
For example, one common way people practice self-care is by taking bubble baths or hot showers at the end of the day. This helps them relax after work or school and gives their minds time to unwind before bedtime. Another form of self-care involves listening to music or reading fiction books as an escape from stressful situations throughout your day.
There are many other ways people practice self-care as well: going out with friends, eating foods they enjoy (like chocolate!), exercising regularly, spending time outdoors…the list goes on!**
Conclusion
Self-care is a powerful tool that can help you deal with your stressors, but it’s not always easy to incorporate into your routine. That’s why we recommend taking small steps to build this into your life—and remember, there are many different types of self-care! Some people find that doing yoga helps them feel more balanced and grounded; others like reading or meditating. Whatever works for each individual person will be unique in its own way. The important thing is that these practices aren’t just luxury items—they’re vital tools for managing our well-being as well as helping us navigate challenging situations.
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