Self-Care A-Z: Relax, Reset, Rediscover!
by Donia Addison, MSW, LSW
Doing the same thing expecting different results is not realistic. Why approach self-care in the same way? Sometimes we need to relax, reset, and rediscover! Nothing is written in stone. Practicing self-care shouldn’t be either. We should take time to discover our likes and dislikes at different life stages and adapt our self-care practice. What we needed in one phase can differ from what’s needed now. As humans, we grow and evolve; our self-care should, too!
Relax! I often hear the misperception that self-care consists of massages, manicures, and the gym. While these self-care activities are beneficial, relaxing can be as simple as evaluating the way we spend our time. Along with other commitments (e.g., mom, two jobs!), I’m working toward my clinical social work license (LCSW). I’ve become very rigid with my schedule, accounting for almost every hour. Recently, with cancellations, I had a two-hour gap and realized how relaxing it was to have nothing scheduled for two hours! This time allowed me to delay the start of being “on” schedule; through unstructured time, I felt rejuvenated. Our connection to time is important in our self-care journey.
Reset! All of us have hit the backspace (reset) button on our computer to start something over. Sometimes we need a reset for our self-care. I traveled solo several times this year for professional development. I paired my love for learning with my love of travel: Match made in heaven. I allowed myself to go with the flow when I wasn’t in a workshop. I researched where the locals eat and interesting, quirky places in each city. I was free from pressing responsibilities, which allowed me to reset my self-care journey. I realize we can’t all take trips as often as we may like, but we can hit the reset button whenever necessary.
Rediscover! As a therapist with teenagers, a favorite activity to complete with them is “discovering your likes and dislikes.” Imagine if we approached self-care similarly. Self-care is a continuous process and should be reevaluated often. What do you like doing? Dislike doing? If you’d told me eleven months ago I would grow to love intense workouts, I would’ve said, “No way!” The gym and I had a love-hate relationship. Last January, like many, I decided to give the gym another go. This time I sought help, though. I hired a personal trainer and fell in love with intense exercise. Am I saying everyone should hire a personal trainer or go to the gym? No! I am saying: Continue trying old and new things to discover self-care likes and dislikes.
Self-care is an evolving process. For me, it’s allowing myself to relax, reset, and rediscover. As we enter the holidays, give yourself the gift of self-care. As we prepare for 2019, consider what New Year’s Resolutions you might make to Relax, Reset, and Rediscover! After all, self-care is essential professional practice! And, as I said in my “U” entry for The A-to-Z Self-Care Handbook, U R worth it!
Donia Addison, MSW, LSW, is a mental health therapist in a southern Indiana school district. She has more than fifteen years of experience in the social services field and is passionate about preventing professional burnout. Her hope is to inspire others to find their own self-care journey.
For more self-care ideas, check out The A-to-Z Self-Care Handbook for Social Workers and Other Helping Professionals