One beneficial way to maintain good health is to practice self-care. In fact, online counseling in Towson, MD can be helpful in understanding how important self-care is. Self-care can look like a wide array of things. It is important to understand what you need and what you want as well as what makes you happy. Knowing these things will help you perform beneficial self-care. Some people believe self-care is selfish, however, this isn't true.
What is Healthy Self-Care?
Healthy self-care is doing what is good for us. This can include keeping healthy boundaries, getting enough sleep each night, getting fresh air, or taking care of ourselves spiritually. Really, self-care is heavily dependant on what is good for you and what makes you happy. We can incorporate these activities into our lives by making time for ourselves and valuing and honoring that time. Just like we often honor the time we make for our friends and family, we should honor the time we make for ourselves.
Questions to Ask Ourselves About Self-Care
To allow ourselves the benefit of self-care, we must increase our self-awareness. Therefore, here are a few things we can ask ourselves:
Is this what I really want?
For instance, someone can play hockey because their father and grandfather played it and, “it runs in the family”, but if this person doesn't enjoy team sports, doing another activity could be healthier and more enjoyable.
How is what I'm doing affecting me?
To keep with the hockey example, if that person doesn’t enjoy hockey, they may are putting themselves in harm's way for something they don’t even enjoy. Then, if they were to get hurt, this could cause deeper feelings of sadness or even regret or resentment.
Am I over-committing myself?
When we over-commit ourselves, we may not be spending enough time taking care of ourselves. And if we're not taking care of our own needs, it can negatively affect others.
This proves that self-care is not selfish. It is important to take care of ourselves for ourselves and those around us.
Am I taking enough time out of my life to rejuvenate myself?
Not carving out enough time to refresh ourselves can affect our mood, thoughts, and behaviors. It can also cause us to have less patience with others, therefore, affecting our relationships.
Self-Care Is Different Than Selfishness
Neglecting our own self-care can make us lash out at others even when we don’t mean to or don’t realize we’re doing it. When we practice self-care, we in turn have more patience for others and more to give. Self-care is not selfish.
Consider Online Counseling in Towson, MD
B'well Counseling Services is a mental health therapy practice offering a full range of therapeutic services including online counseling in Towson, MD, and the Greater Baltimore area. We believe in helping people rekindle their curiosity and reconnect to their core selves so that they can truly be well. We value wellness and connection over happiness because we understand that being able to experience the full range of human emotions and experiences is what helps us heal and grow. At B'well, we are dedicated to creating a space for anyone who has ever felt unwelcome because of their identity, orientation, or expression.
B'well Counseling Services offers Telehealth Therapy Services. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.