By Madison Weber, MHC-LP, Associate Therapist
The term “self-care” is thrown around so casually in today’s day and age. Have you ever taken the time to think about what self-care really is and what it means?
If you’re a high-performing individual, whether it be in work, school, or your personal life, taking time to discover self-care will be such an important part of your life!
Due to high expectations and demands, high-performing individuals commonly experience:
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Overwhelm
- Feelings of depression
And, you guessed it, this can lead to burnout and other mental health challenges.
This is where self-care comes in.
Self-care is so necessary for high-performing individuals who need to manage the demands put on them, while also maintaining good mental health.
What is self-care?
Self-care is all of the things that you do that allow you to be healthy and well in order to care for yourself, do your job, and accomplish your goals from day to day. It is engaging in something in a mindful way that contributes to your well-being.
Self-care looks different for everyone, it may consist of exercise, meditation, or taking a relaxing bath. Others may find that spending time with friends and family, reading a book, or indulging in a hobby is an important part of their self-care routine.
Addressing Myths About Self-Care
There are many misconceptions about self-care that are important to demystify before identifying what self-care actually is.
It’s expensive.
You don’t have to spend money on self-care. Self-care has been monetized in a way to make you believe that you have to have certain products to engage in self-care. This is not true! There are so many things we will discuss that are free ways to help you relax and recenter yourself.
It’s time-consuming.
Self-care also doesn’t require a ton of time. It can be whatever you make it, whether it’s a quick break outside at work or between classes, or a longer walk when you have time.
It means I’m selfish
Self-care is not selfish. There is nothing selfish or self-indulgent about caring for yourself and dedicating time to ensuring you are taken care of! In fact, you will be a better friend, partner, parent, and colleague if you allow time and space for yourself to recharge. Not only can self-care improve your mental health, but it may also allow you to perform better in the areas that are demanding so much of you.
There Are Many Different Aspects of Self-Care
If you are someone experiencing high-performance demands at work, at school, or at home, there are many aspects of self-care to explore to enhance your mental health:
Physical Health
One aspect of self-care that many people don’t realize actually is an act of self-care is caring for our physical bodies, not just our mental space. Nutrition, exercise, and sleep can all be components of your self-care routine. We so often neglect the connection between the mind and the body.
- Consider the food you are putting into your body. Nourishing your body with healthy food can have an impact on overall mood, as well as contribute to your body feeling physically well.
- Exercise is so important to a self-care routine. Daily exercise can contribute to lower levels of anxiety and depression, as well as being able to almost instantly boost your mood.
- Sleep hygiene is essential to incorporate into your self-care routine. Turning off your technology before bed and ensuring that you’re getting at least 7 hours of sleep is crucial for self-care.
Emotional Health
Taking care of your emotional health is what might come to mind when considering self-care. This could be a bubble bath, a skin care regimen, or treating yourself to something special. While all of these components can be important, the intention of emotional self-care is to ensure you are attending to and expressing your feelings.
- Journaling can be especially helpful in processing emotions and working through your feelings. Take this time to sit with your thoughts and what you are feeling. Writing about your feelings can be a unique way to understand yourself better and see things more clearly.
- Practicing mindfulness can also be an effective component of your self-care routine. Mindfulness is being present at the moment and attending to your thoughts, feelings, and sensations in a non-judgmental way. Mindfulness meditation can be used as a practice in anxiety therapy to help alleviate some anxiety symptoms. It should be noted that mindfulness can be tough at first. It takes practice to address your thoughts in a non-judgmental way and to become comfortable with attending only to the present moment. Reminder: Give yourself grace!
- Seeking support from others can also be a helpful component of self-care. Whether that is through talking with friends or family about your feelings or seeking out a therapist, a support system is crucial in attending to your emotional health. Working with a therapist comes with the benefit of being able to focus on your personal experiences. Seeking therapy for anxiety due to the demands of your career or personal life can be a helpful tool for identifying coping skills and finding ways to alleviate your anxiety.
A Self-Care Routine is Unique to Each Individual
I want to emphasize that finding a self-care routine that works for you is not linear.
You may experience a trial and error period to figure out what works best for you!
Given the demands placed on you, it is important to implement self-care in some way. It is easy to find excuses not to engage in self-care, especially as someone being held to such high standards.
Consider Seeking the Help of an Anxiety Therapist
If it becomes too much to handle on your own, consider seeking an anxiety therapist for women for some extra support. Your mental health and well-being do not need to be sacrificed in order to meet high-performance demands.
In fact, you will probably perform better if your mental health is addressed and taken care of!
Are You Ready to Start Anxiety Therapy in NYC?
Anxiety is the most common mental health challenge in the United States. If you live in a big city and are struggling with anxiety, know that you’re not alone, and professional support is available. At Inside Psychotherapy we have a skilled team of therapists that are ready to help you break the cycle of anxiety. Follow the steps below to get started!
- Learn more about our skilled team of therapists here.
- Fill out our convenient online contact form.
- Begin the journey to a life free from anxiety!
Other Therapy Services Offered at Inside Psychotherapy, NYC.
In addition to Anxiety Therapy, we offer a wide variety of therapy services designed to meet you where you are in your life. We also offer services both online and in person. We also utilize several different treatment modalities including CBT, Eclectic Psychotherapy, Mindfulness, and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy. Our services include therapy for:
