If we are truly honest with ourselves, self care is often overlooked, or even disregarded as a method of improving our mental health. Maybe you understand that lifestyle changes are necessary in order to heal, but just can’t seem to bring yourself to actually commit to the changes.

As any of our Christian counselors will tell you, we must remember to prioritize self care as an important aspect of our spiritual journey. The Lord has given us a physical body, and it is our responsibility to take care of it, just as we take care of our Souls.

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV)

Self care is not selfish, but rather a way to honor God and His creation. It allows us to be better equipped to serve Him and others, and to fulfill the purposes He has for our lives. Just as we take time to pray, read the Bible, and attend church, we should also make time for rest, exercise, healthy eating, and other forms of self care.

Remember, taking care of ourselves is not just about physical health, but also mental and emotional health. It is important to seek help and support when needed, whether it be from a trusted friend or a professional Christian counselor. Let us strive to honor God in all areas of our lives, including our self care practices.

Definitely a tough choice. Eats the doughnuts, but substitute an apple from time to time too!

1) Prioritize Sleep: Catching enough Zzz’s is essential for our mental and physical well-being. Make sure you’re giving yourself enough snooze time. Create a nighttime routine that cools down your mind, like taking a warm bath/shower, reading a book, or practicing meditation and other relaxation techniques.

2) Exercise Regularly: Exercise is not just good for your physical health but your mental health too. Make it a priority to exercise regularly, whether it means running like Forrest Gump, or simply walking around the block. It doesn’t matter which direction you go, as long as you go.

3) Eat Healthy Food: Your body needs fuel to function properly. Make sure you’re feeding it with healthy and nutritious food. Eating a balanced diet can help improve your overall well-being.

4) Practice Gratitude: Gratitude is a powerful tool that can help shift your focus from what you don’t have to what you do have. Take time each day to reflect on the things you’re grateful for, no matter how small. Keep a daily gratitude journal and write down your thoughts. You will start to notice patterns in your writing over time (both good and “bad”) which can help point you in the direction toward healing.

5) Set Boundaries: Setting boundaries is important for your mental health. Learn to say no when you need to, and prioritize the things that are most important to you. Remember, every time you say yes to something, you say no to something else.

6) Connect with Others: Having a strong support system can help improve your mental health. Make time to connect with friends and loved ones, whether it’s through a phone call or a coffee date. Whatever your support system looks like, you should never feel like you’re going through something alone. If you do feel like you’re alone, please reach out to us below.

7) Seek Professional Help: There’s no shame in seeking professional help when you need it. Whether it’s through counseling for anxiety, depression, trauma, marriage issues, or a number of other specialties, committing to therapy is perhaps the most important step in improving your mental health.

8) Enhance Self-Awareness: Practicing self care can help you develop a greater sense of self-awareness, which in turn can improve your mental health. When you take the time to reflect on your needs and emotions, you can gain a better understanding of what triggers stress or anxiety in your life. This awareness can help you develop healthy coping mechanisms, reduce negative self-talk, and increase your overall emotional intelligence.

If you struggle to incorporate self care into your daily routine, schedule a counseling session to spark real change. There are many different motivators behind why people seek counseling, and for good reason!  Life is full of peaks and valleys; highs and lows. Regardless of which therapy services you’re interested in, we’ve got Christian counselors on our team who can help you get from where you are to where you want to be.

FINDING A CHRISTIAN THERAPIST

Research shows that much of the change people experience during their time in therapy is because they felt heard and understood by their therapist–that their therapist “got them” and that the guidance they gave was relevant and applicable.  Because of this, it is critical that you find a therapist whom you can connect with, whom you feel comfortable with, whom you feel “gets you.” Therefore, we encourage you to take a few minutes to read a little about each one of our therapists. If you prefer to look at the counselors nearest to you, please click the office location buttons below. Otherwise, you can meet with any of our Christian Counselors online from the comfort of your own home. If you have questions about any of them, please contact us!