- ABC of Mental Health
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- All Things Self-Care
Hello! Welcome to another edition of the ABC of Mental Health, your partner in the journey to better mental health — one newsletter at a time. This week’s theme is All Things Self-Care. We bring it to your inbox this Thursday to make your Thursday a little therapeutic!
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One relevant recommendation:
First step to self-care: Drawing better boundaries at work (30-second video)
Here's a gentle reminder that self-care is not just an act, but a continual process of establishing a healthy distance at which we can love others and ourselves. Amid the hustle culture, where work-life balance has become a glorified myth and emphasis on productivity (at the cost of burnouts), is the absolute and celebrated norm, we’ve got to (now more than ever) engage in activities that ‘spark joy’. A stepping stone towards this can be drawing boundaries, thereby making a conscious effort to take out time to work on yourself personally.
Two quotes on Self-Care and Taking Care of Yourself:
Katie Reed, a writer and speaker, highlights the importance of self-care:
"Self-care is giving the world the best of you, instead of what's left of you."
Lori Deschene, the founder of Tiny Buddha, emphasizes that self-care simply includes identifying and meeting our core needs:
"Taking care of yourself doesn't mean me first, it means me too."
Three TherapyShorts from TST (on taking care of yourself better)
Flow States: Engaging in activities that induce a flow state, can be a powerful form of self-care. Flow is the mental state where you are fully immersed in an activity, experiencing high levels of focus, enjoyment, and productivity. Identifying hobbies or work tasks such as creating art, playing sports, writing, etc bring about this state. Some benefits include enhanced creativity, increased happiness, reduced anxiety, and greater life satisfaction. Incorporating flow-inducing activities into your routine can help you cultivate a sense of fulfilment and well-being.
Mindful Consumption: By being selective and deliberate about what you consume, you create a healthier, more balanced lifestyle that promotes overall well-being and resilience. This involves making intentional choices about the food, media, and information you consume. By being mindful of your diet, you can choose nutritious foods that support your physical health and emotional well-being. Similarly, curating your media and information intake helps protect your mental space from negativity and overload. Engaging with content that inspires, educates, and uplifts can significantly improve your mood and outlook.
Self-care is more than face masks and candles: Self-care is much more than face masks and candles; it's about nurturing your overall well-being. This includes maintaining boundaries, seeking therapy, exercising, eating well, fostering relationships, ensuring financial stability, practising mindfulness, and connecting with nature. True self-care supports mental, emotional, physical, intellectual, and digital health for a balanced and fulfilling life.
A QUESTION?
What area of life do you prioritize self-care?
Physical health (through working out/movement)
Mental health (through mindfulness/therapy)
Intellectual health (through reading/journaling)
Digital health (through screen time management/proper sleep schedule)
LAST WEEK’S RESPONSE
How we build connections changes as we grow older. While mutual connections help us make friends when we’re young, our struggle in making new friends increases significantly as we grow older. What do you think? We always want to hear from you :)
Love and light,
The Social Therapist
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