By Flavia Mosci
Busy, stressed, fatigued, and drained throughout the day? You are not alone; in this fast-paced world with technology demanding ever so often the immediate completion of tasks, the pressure is on us. Turning on the news tends to add to our worries, and more recently the coronavirus scare is keeping us all on high alert. In addition, many of us may be going through financial challenges or worrying about the stability of our near future. It is hard to escape our worries and responsibilities and at times they can accumulate and become overwhelming. Prior to being accepted to my Counseling & Psychology program, I took part in an initial interview, during which time, I had the opportunity to ask the interviewing professor the following question: “What is the most important recommendation that you can give me during my studies?”. His answer was clear and concise: Self-Care.
As my studies began, I found myself writing a research paper after paper, some of which was 30 pages long. The required reading of psychology books for various classes was each no shorter than 500-800 pages long. Trying to complete a master’s program while administrating two other businesses on the side was not an easy task. I realized at that point that I had no more time for myself. My diet began to suffer, and exercising was the last thing on my mind; even my personal chores became compromised. I was pressured for time and my anxiety level was at an all times high. I was experiencing burn-out. Since I had no time to process my thoughts during the day, my stresses kept me up every night.
I was certainly meeting all my work responsibilities, but I felt drained both mentally and physically. It was at that point that I remembered that professors’ well-given advice. If I did not stop and make self-care a priority, all the areas of my life would suffer. I then learned that balance between work and relaxation was the key. We must stop pushing the limits and learn to slow down. Our health, our sleep, and our inner peace are priceless and should not be sacrificed for extra work hours.
The first and most important step is to make that commitment to take time off for self-care; if you do not plan that into your day, it may never happen. Remember also that self-care is not a one-time deal, it needs to be incorporated into your daily routine. If you begin to search this topic online, you will find many great little suggestions on how to care for yourself; Pinterest for example is a great place to start!
Here I have shared some of my own choices, hoping that I can motivate you to create some balance in your daily life:
-A day off the internet
- -Enjoying a nice coffee break in the middle of my day
- -Making sure my workday does not extend beyond 6 pm
- -Practicing 20 sets of diaphragmatic breathing when I feel stress rising
- -Strolling through the park (with my phone turned off), during a sunny day
- -Taking a walk by the sea’s side while allowing all my senses to become activated
- -Getting a once a month deep tissue massage
- -Making an effort to sleep at least 6-7 hours a day
- -Drinking my daily power smoothies
- -Adding lavender scented products for a more relaxing shower
- -Going to a matinee and enjoying a good comedy or a light-hearted movie
- -learning to say no and Not accepting more responsibilities than I can comfortably handle
- -Praying
These are the things that help me to restore my energy. Remember, self-care is about doing things that help you to relax from all the stresses and to decompress from the pressured lifestyles. It is about bringing balance between work and play. It is about knowing and setting your limits. It is about having fun and not forgetting to enjoy life. Do not skip on those essential breaks, and make some “Me time”!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Flavia Mosci enjoys celebrating different cultures, she is a citizen of Brazil, Italy, and the United States. Her research interests are in the areas of Child Psychology, Spirituality & Mental Health, and Wellness. She holds a BSC in Finance from Florida State University and a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from Troy University. She currently works with The Healing Impact providing by mental health services to children and adults in our area. One of the specializations of The Healing Impact is the work with children who have experienced trauma throughout their lives. The Healing Impact also attends to the counseling needs of kids at Children in Crisis in Fort Walton Beach. Flavia is also a published author and her newest book is called “I Flow: 738 words towards awareness and mental freedom”. Her contact email is [email protected].
