The Importance of Self-Care for Mental Health

Self-care is a popular topic right now, with social media flooded with images of people enjoying activities like nail salons or beach days captioned with #selfcare. But understanding exactly what self-care entails, its importance, and how to implement it can be confusing, especially with so much conflicting information. So, let's clarify what self-care is. In its simplest form, self-care is a practice that energizes you, shows kindness to yourself, nurtures your soul, and fills you up – something you look forward to doing. Many people spend their time constantly giving to others, whether through work, family, friends, or daily tasks. However, neglecting yourself can lead to feelings of burnout, irritability, and frustration, which can negatively affect mental health. In this blog, I’ll discuss common myths about self-care, share practical examples, offer insights on how to incorporate self-care, and highlight the positive impact it can have on your life.

Myth 1: I Can’t Afford to Indulge in Self-Care

Self-care doesn’t need to be expensive. While some forms of self-care can be pricey, there are many ways to practice self-care that fit within your budget. Self-care is adaptable and can change over time.

Some no-cost self-care examples include: taking a nap, listening to your favorite music, going to bed on time, listing three things you're grateful for, stating 10 positive affirmations, giving or receiving a hug, or calling a friend.

Myth 2: I Don’t Have the Time

You make time for what’s important to you. If you value yourself, you'll find the time. Self-care doesn’t have to be elaborate or time-consuming. It doesn’t require three hours a day or even a full day commitment; that’s neither realistic nor practical. Having a variety of ideas ready in advance can help you choose something that fits the time you have available.

Some self-care ideas that take 15 minutes or less include: eating a piece of 70% dark chocolate, taking a hot shower, watching a short comedy set, meditating, reading 10 pages of a book, journaling, or lighting a candle.

Myth 3: I Feel Guilty

Feeling guilty about practicing self-care is common and may take time to work through. A frequent reason for this guilt is the feeling of obligation to prioritize others. However, consider this analogy: if you were on an airplane and oxygen masks fell, would it be selfish to put your own mask on first before helping others? The answer is no. It’s part of safety procedures because if you lose consciousness, you won’t be able to help others. The same applies to your personal life. If you don’t prioritize yourself, your ability to help others diminishes and could even lead to needing assistance yourself.

Where to Start?

I encourage my clients to create a list on their phones of 50 things that give them energy. This might feel daunting, but with some online research, conversations with friends, and time, you can find a variety of self-care practices that work for you personally. Writing these down is essential, as it’s hard to remember what helps when life gets tough. By preparing ahead, you can quickly scroll through your list, find what seems beneficial, and implement it. However, it’s ideal not to wait until things get hard to practice self-care. Instead, aim to incorporate 2-3 items from your list into your daily life. That way, when challenges arise, you’ll have more tolerance, grace, and compassion for yourself and others because you’ve been consistently recharging. I’ve seen clients radically transform their lives by embracing this simple habit, allowing them to enjoy life more fully, greet each day with excitement, and handle life’s difficulties with renewed hope.

This is just the beginning. I hope you take the courageous step toward prioritizing yourself. If you’re struggling with difficult emotions or implementing this practice, I’m here for you. It would be my honor to support you on this journey, and you can start by scheduling a free 15minute consultation here.