These days there seems to be little time for self-care due to the high expectations of school, work, or raising a family, etc. Blood pressure has been at a record high, partially due to the impact of stress, contributing to the downfall of our mental health and well-being. Productivity and holding capacity for others often diminishes when we are not making room for ourselves, and burnout eventually takes over.

Creating time is a privilege for some more than others depending on support systems and other systemic concerns. So the question becomes, how do we make time for self-care and implement self-care into our daily routine? With some creativity and out of the box thinking, let’s do an exercise to see how we can discover different forms of self-care that resonate with your individual needs and availability.

Learning about how trauma affects us is important. When you are feeling emotionally threatened, what are the thoughts that run through your mind? Are you able to differentiate when you FEEL unsafe versus when you ARE unsafe? When your central nervous system kicks into survival mode do you instinctively shut down, become immobile, or disassociate (freeze)? Do you get into physical or verbal altercations (fight) as a way to preserve yourself? Or do you run away, panic, or shut people out/ isolate (flight)?

Dealing with conflict, especially with our loved ones or partners, can be challenging. Interactions with the individuals we are closest to often expose our deeper wounds and unmet needs, as they become mirrors for what has yet to be resolved in us. An altercation can lead to feelings of vulnerability, causing us to act from a place of fear or anger, especially when we are trying to get needs met and are not feeling heard.

Your mind is a powerful tool. Therefore, it is important to choose our words and where we put our focus carefully. How we think can impact how we feel. Being mindful of words can shift perspective, while enhancing mood and self-esteem. Do you ever struggle with perfectionism or feeling like you can never get enough done in a day? Does this ever lead to overwhelming stress or perhaps even panic attacks? Do you associate your sense of worth with accomplishment? Here are a couple of exercises that may help with a shift in perspective and well-being for those of us who struggle with perfectionism or self-worth.