Feeling stressed, uninspired, or burned out? With our lives filled with so much to do, we’re often pulled in too many directions at once. Over time, it can be difficult to feel healthy and rested. Focusing on caring for yourself by adding self-therapy to your daily habits can help improve your mood, ease symptoms of depression and stress, and give you more positive energy to be happy and healthy.
What Is Self-Therapy?
Think of self-therapy as strategies you can use to focus on yourself and recenter your body, mind, and soul. Self-therapy is about taking a few minutes out of your day and making yourself a priority – it only takes a few minutes to bolster your own self-worth and well-being. And it starts by giving yourself permission to put everything else in your life on pause so you can take care of yourself. However, it’s important to note that some problems may be outside your ability to handle and you should always seek professional help if you feel you need it.
Top Benefits of Self-Therapy
Practicing self-therapy isn’t always easy but the benefits are enormous. There are many reasons why your daily routine should include time for self-therapy. The experts say self-therapy can be just as effective as counseling in reducing anxiety and dealing with the winter blahs. Taking time and recharging can also help you sleep better, restore your energy, and have better relationships with those important people in your life.
Ideas For Self-Therapy
Self-therapy can be different things to each of us. For some, exercise and being physical can help keep anxiety in perspective. For others, sitting down with a book can give you guidance and insight into your own life situations and inspire you to make improvements.
Here are some other some great self-therapy techniques for your body, mind, and soul:
For Your Body
There’s a strong connection between your body and mind – taking care of your body helps you feel and think better:
- Skip the coffee and reach for green tea. Green tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that can help fight anxiety and stress.
- Take a short walk every day to get outside and clear your mind. Being out in nature can help to improve your concentration and focus.
- Include mood-boosting foods in your diet, such as avocado, nuts, and yogurt, especially if you suffer from seasonal depression during the winter months.
For Your Mind
Sometimes your mind can be your worst enemy, filling your day with anxious and negative thoughts. Taking a few minutes to connect with your mind can help promote your wellbeing:
- What are you grateful for? Before going to sleep, write down what you’re grateful for from that day.
- Prioritize your to-do list. It’s far too easy to become stressed when you think of all the things you need to do today. Make a list, putting those must-do items at the top and focus on doing one thing at a time.
- Practice mindfulness – take a few minutes to become aware of how your thoughts are affecting your feelings. Sometimes just taking a step back can help you recognize that you’re feeling anxious or angry, giving you those few minutes to take a deep breath and just acknowledge your emotions. This allows you to redirect any negative thoughts and look at them from a different viewpoint.
For Your Soul
Your soul needs self-therapy just as much as your body and mind. Nourishing your inner self can help you feel more empowered and positive about your life:
- Make time for fun. We often don’t make time for the things we enjoy doing. Block off time in your calendar to do something you love doing, such as going for a bike ride or to the movies.
- Keep a stress journal. The benefits of journaling are enormous – just by writing down those things that are causing you anxiety you’ll be able to get a clearer understanding of what’s going on in your life.
- Recognize your emotional limits. When you understand your limits, you know that going beyond them is going to create stress and negativity. Clearly define your triggers and stick within your boundaries.
Start Making Changes Today
Self-therapy is wonderful for your physical and mental wellbeing. Making time each day to access your thoughts and feelings lets you connect with yourself, giving you the inner power to manage your stress, depression, and negative emotions. Stop making excuses and start making changes today by adding just one self-therapy technique to your day. And if you need additional self-therapy ideas for the mind, body, and soul, take a look at the beginner’s guide.
Heidi is a writer and content creator based in New York City. When she isn’t covering health and wellness, vegan lifestyle, and women in the workplace articles, you can usually find her exploring a new neighborhood or hanging out with her bearded dragon.
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