2020 has been a year for the books! So far, we’ve experienced a global pandemic, have transitioned to distance learning, and are living in a polarized political climate. We still have three months to go until the end of the year and there’s no sign it’s going to let up.
Right now, the very best thing we can do for ourselves is to learn to take care of ourselves – mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Self-care is more than white wine and face masks, and in today’s fast-paced, productivity-focused world, it’s more important than ever.
Here are eight ideas from the Relationship Therapy Center to inspire and support you to treat yourself well in 2020.
8 Ways to Treat Yourself Well in 2020
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Begin a meditation practice. Try deep belly breathing and meditation to center and ground yourself each morning. Just ten or fifteen minutes a day can change the way you engage with the world. Meditation apps and Youtube videos are great ways to get started.
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Be in nature and put your bare feet on the earth. When we put our feet on the ground, we connect our bodies to the healing energy of the earth. Nature is the calming, natural antidote for stress and anxiety; plus, breathing nature into our microbiome boosts our immune systems!
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Release stress through movement. Exercise is a wonderful way to reset your mind and your energy. When we push our bodies to do something difficult, we also train our minds that we can do difficult things. Exercising regularly creates resiliency and determination, both of which we need in 2020.
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Limit media exposure. Constant coronavirus updates and tumultuous political news, plus emails from school, calls from colleagues, and social media notifications… no wonder we feel stressed. Learn to set boundaries around media consumption. Maybe you consume for thirty minutes in the morning or check-in after dinner, but whatever you decide, make sure you aren’t consuming media all day long.
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Ditch the perfectionism. Now is not the time to wear all the hats and try to wear them perfectly. No one can do all the things. Set reasonable goals and standards for yourself and learn to let go of things that are in the past. 2020 is a year for embracing uncertainty and letting go of attachment.
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Talk to someone. A sister, friend, partner, or therapist, it doesn’t matter who. Just be sure that somewhere, somehow you have an outlet when things feel overwhelming, frustrating, or simply too difficult. 2020 is the perfect year to explore talk therapy, either in-person or virtually.
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Find something to focus on and care about. Maybe you tackle a series of books, commit to a yoga practice every day for a month, knit a sweater, or learn to bake the best gluten-free bread ever. You could also commit to a meditation practice every morning until schools reopen. Whatever you decide, taking on a new hobby is a good way to redirect restless energy and make the most out of a challenging situation.
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Take care of your body, which means ditching the junk food and prioritizing sleep. Our bodies respond to the care they get, and foods such as processed sugar, gluten, alcohol, and caffeine can affect our mental and emotional health just as much as our physical health. Sleep also has a huge effect on how we feel, so try clearing your sleep space of screens and going to bed a little bit earlier.
Reminder – no one is asking you to do everything on this list. But, by slowly incorporating just one or two of these daily practices, you may be amazed at how good you feel. Like two ships sailing in the same direction, if one takes a slight change in direction, they will end up at completely different destinations. At the Relationship Therapy Center, we care about your destination. Contact us today to find out more.
Other Services offered at The Relationship Therapy Center in California:
In addition to individual therapy, Our Sacramento area counseling clinics located in Roseville and Fair Oaks, CA are pleased to offer a variety of mental health services. We will discuss the importance of self-care and emotional support to help you cope with the unexpected and rapid changes in our society and to discover ways to find healthy ways of dealing with stress.
Eating Disorder therapy can be beneficial, with the right therapist. Our compassionate therapists are trained to walk you through the process and help you find healing and peace. Please contact our therapy office to learn more about the many ways we can help you and your loved ones heal, grow, and live healthy.