Self-Care Strategies for Therapists and Caregivers

Hey Caregivers and Therapists! You Doing Okay? As caregivers and therapists, on top of the day-to-day stressors you may have, you have a high possibility of burnout. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and it is the perfect time to check in with yourself to see how you're doing. How can you honor YOUR beauty and joy this month (and all year long)? Does it feel cheesy to say? Yes, but what YOU do is BEAUTIFUL and brings joy! Honor that by checking in with your mental health.

A Mental Health Check-In for Therapists and Caregivers

Let's look at some resources to check in with your mental health whether you're feeling happy, sad, or anything in between, as well as some practical self-care ideas! Take a moment to ask the questions in the picture below to yourself. More importantly, listen to your truth as you answer.

I challenge you to ask yourself these questions every day. I know it seems tedious, but once it's a habit then you can incorporate your mental health into your routine in an easy way! Check out this Mental Health Overview and Toolkit from the NIH that is very useful for the next steps after you answer those questions, as well as more resources for finding mental health assistance.

Self-Care Strategies for Caregivers

Exploring practical self-care ideas and ways to find joy in your day is important. Self-care can have different meanings to different people, and much of that is centered around what is accessible and feasible for you. You don't need to overcomplicate things with self-care. It's as simple as taking time each day to do something joyful for yourself.

Being practical with your self-care is important so that it's achievable for you and your life. Before you begin a regular self-care routine, make sure that you have diverse options of self-care to choose from based on your energy level that day. This sets you up for success no matter how much or how little effort you have to put into your self-care for the day.

Once you have a list, try to stack your self-care with another routine you have set. For example, once I am sitting in bed at the end of the day, I put on my favorite scented hand lotion before I set my alarm for the morning. This is a simple act of joy I added to my routine just by placing the lotion next to my charger as a reminder to pause and take a moment during a routine activity.

More Self-Care Ideas

As an extra self-care idea, here is a playlist of songs that are sure to make you feel good or help you get up and dance! Take time to use these ideas to find what works for you.

One Last Note...

You are not alone in the feelings you experience as an educator, therapist, caregiver, or human being. You are important in what you do and to keep being your fabulous self you must check in with your mental health. Mental Health Matters and SO DO YOU!