Makenzie Parks, LCSW
September is recognized as National Self-Care Month, focusing on managing stress, taking care of oneself, and promoting healthy routines. Self-care includes many aspects of wellness such as physical, mental, social health. This month, we encourage you to take time to assess how frequently you perform self-care activities and identify areas of your well-being that need more attention.
Here are four simple tips to maximize your health and wellness:
- Acknowledge the importance of caring for yourself. Healthcare workers can be guilty of putting everyone’s health before their own. We all need time and energy dedicated to our own well-being, so be sure to acknowledge your own needs.
- Make a personalized plan. Everyone is different and thus self-care should be individualized. Think about what specific activities make you feel rested or joyful, then plan to incorporate them in your routine.
- Start small. You don’t need to overhaul your schedule to increase your self-care time. Start by prioritizing 5 minutes per day. It’s amazing what even just 5 minutes of care for yourself can do.
- Take charge of your own well-being. Colleagues and managers can encourage self-care, but only you can make it happen!
If you would like to schedule an appointment to explore your health and wellness, reach out to Work/Life Connections-EAP for support. Call 615.936.1327 to schedule a confidential appointment with one of our EAP counselors.
