Want to know what self-care actually looks like for therapists?

Alright, so I preach self-care to EVERYONE but do therapists actually do this stuff? Have you ever wondered, “what do therapists do for self-care?” If so here are the answers! A general question was posed to an online therapist community I am involved in about what do you actually do for self-care. A common theme throughout all the answers was that these professionals make self-care a part of their daily life. For the most part, it is not a grand gesture of self-care. It is setting effective boundaries, protecting their passions, and making room in their life for what fills them with love, happiness, and energy.

Here are the responses:

Writing in my journal daily no matter what
Chick flicks
Starting my day off with something on my DVR and leisurely drinking coffee
Having an outlet for art- whether it is scrapbooking, collage, beading jewelry, or painting
Walking my dog- long walks in the woods (this was a popular one)
Every evening after dinner I load the dishwasher and wipe down the kitchen counters. I love the feeling of waking up to a clean kitchen the next morning while I make my cup of coffee or tea and cook some breakfast
Prayer first then meditation to set my intention for the day
Read a good book
Disconnect for 24-48 hours from social media
Use my essential oil diffuser
Do guided meditation
An hour of yoga 3-4 days per week
Prep food for the week on Sunday nights
Fresh air and sunshine on my face daily
Snuggle with my cats and have lap time
Allow myself to watch reality tv without judgement
Going to the gym- lift weights and a sweaty cardio workout
Home cooked meals
Sitting down with my family and talking about our day
Hydration- plenty of water
Try to say no to something every day. It frees me up to say yes to what really matters
Martial arts
8 plus hours of sleep a night
Take medication daily
Setting up social stuff after work
Communicate clearly with family about needing some down time
Laugh as often as possible
Don’t skip dinner
Realize that it will all get done and there is no need to stress right now
Massages and spa days
Staying true to my schedule