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What Do I Need In My Self-Care Toolkit?

Whether you’re recovering from a mental illness, addiction, both or none at all, everyone needs to have a self-care toolkit. No, this isn’t an actual kit that you may think of to fix a car, per se, but it’s a metaphorical toolkit. In order for us to function our best as human beings, we have to take excellent care of ourselves. As the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) puts it, stress can take a major toll on our bodies:

    • Headaches
    • Low energy
    • Upset stomach
    • Aches and pains
    • Insomnia

Much of these problems could easily be avoided had we practiced more self-care. Fort Garry Women’s Resource Center describes self-care as this: “It’s about identifying your own needs and taking steps to meet them. It is taking the time to do some of the activities that nurture you. Self-care is about taking proper care of yourself and treating yourself as kindly as you treat others.”

Previous research (and lived experiences) have shown us that self-care can make us more productive, enjoy our days more, create more energy and mental capacity to go after meaningful relationships, and much more. In other words? To take care of others, you first need to take care of yourself. In our society today, workaholism is almost considered a virtue – as Forbes Magazine explains, this tendency to overwork can actually leave us feeling drained, and can even promote mental illnesses and conditions such as anxiety, depression, and insomnia. What can you start doing for your own self-care?

  • Take breaks when you need to.
  • Learn to say “no” when something will push you overboard (physically, mentally, financially, spiritually, etc.)
  • Choose wisely who you spend your time with. (Do they drain you? Make you feel bad about yourself? If so, you probably want to reduce some of your time with them)
  • Stop yourself from overthinking. Keep things simple.
  • Eat healthily. Make sure you get in the vitamins and nutrients you need to function optimally each day.
  • Don’t spend another minute not taking care of yourself. By starting off with these tools, you can be on your way towards more self-love, which means a happier, more fulfilling life.

The Guest House Ocala specializes in the treatment of trauma, addictions, and related mental health issues. Clinical expertise, a compassionate team, and an outstanding attention to detail ensures each guest’s experience will be customized to their needs. Call us today for information on our residential treatment programs: 1-855-483-7800