How AGP Therapists Practice Self-Care
Author: Colleen Woodward
March is National Social Worker Month, so as we celebrate the work that social workers do this month (and every day), we wanted to share some of our self-care practices with our community.
As therapists, we are always encouraging our clients to find ways to practice self-care. We understand how difficult it can be, especially during the last year, to carve out time at the end of a long work day as well as find ways throughout the day that we can take care of ourselves. We want our clients to know that we’re doing this work right alongside you, and are practicing what we preach! It’s not always easy, but the most important thing is finding self-care practices that work for you. You’ll see how different (and sometimes similar) our ways of incorporating self-care are, and that’s because there is no cookie cutter way to relax and destress from your day.
Below you’ll find ways that some therapists of the AGP team fit in self-care, and maybe one of these will strike a chord with you!
Sometimes self-care is all about the simple things you can do for yourself throughout the day. Nita says, “My self-care is not very exciting, but definitely helps me feel grounded!”. Sleep is key for Nita, so she makes sure that she gets her eight hours each night.
Other small but important things Nita does to take care of herself throughout the day includes:
Hydrating all day by filling up her Yeti with warm water
Going for walks a few times a day to get some vitamin d
Putting her phone and all screens down a good 30 minutes before bed
Using blue light glasses when on zoom
With our work days now looking a lot like staying indoors in front of a screen, these little things throughout the day can have a huge impact on our wellbeing!
For Douglas, exercise is a large part of his self-care. He says, “My main source of ‘self-care’ is running and consider it my “mental health medication” and definitely use “running as therapy” to incorporate mind/body/spirit into the ‘practice’ of running. I’ve also been known say for me, as an ex-smoker and my own anxieties, it’s either “Marathons or Marlboros".”
In addition to running, Douglas uses some great apps that he’s shared with us, to incorporate meditation and yoga at home.
Meditation Studio: Douglas uses this app for a more regular meditation practice because they have great guided meditations including ones like the “Grief” collection that he finds helpful
Down Dog: A great app for yoga at home
Integral Yoga Institute & Mala Studio which offers Zoom-based classes (including yoga for runners)
Another way Douglas practices self-care includes indulging in TV shows he missed when he didn’t have a TV, which he finds is a good way to ‘switch-off’!
Native New Yorker, Amy, finds that walks through the city bring a source of comfort. She says, “My favorite form of self-care when I have energy is to take long walks around the city or my neighborhood taking in some breaths of air, window shopping, and stopping for a tea along the way. I find after I roam around the city I feel physically good from the exercise and my thoughts shift from changing my environment/seeing interesting people/places. I always feel better afterwards!”
When Amy is feeling lower on energy she likes to wind down with a hot shower, lavender oil, relaxing music, and a great smelling candle, while thinking of the gratitudes in her life!
Alysha uses exercise, specifically running, as a form of self-care. Alysha says, “I like to run, I have been trying to run consistently as opposed to a certain number of miles as it has been harder to keep those goals and it is better to workout more during the week than just one long run.”
In addition to physical exercise, Alysha practices being more mindful and forgiving herself when she is feeling less motivated or tired. She has also taken up cross stitching which she finds to be very relaxing and something new to try.
Alysha also always keeps a candle lit while she is working which she finds is great for her self-care.
I use exercise and long walks as my most consistent forms of self-care. Running has always been my way to de-stress so I try to do it as much as I can (except when it’s freezing!). More consistently, since quarantine began, I started using Sydney Cummings Youtube workout videos for at-home workouts, they’re great to get my body moving and I like her style of training (the videos are also free!).
I also make sure to get outside for longer walks to distance myself from the computer screen and enjoy some fresh air with a podcast or music. Other forms of self-care I try to incorporate are baking and reading good books!
