Make Today the Day You Shift Your Intention Towards Self Care
I live in Chicago and Have lots of Anxiety, feel Down, and Struck, What Can I Do?
If you’ve been feeling run down, self-conscious, and just blah in general, it may be time to give
yourself permission to change your behaviors so that you can live your very best life. It’s not
hard, and all you need is a new mindset and a few healthy habits.
Focus on Feeling your feelings
Before you get to work changing your routines, it’s important to remember that you have to
prioritize how you feel. In other words, each time you make a change, ask yourself if it truly
makes you happy or if you’re altering your appearance, schedule, or activities to appease others. You
can benefit from a free phone consultation with a coach or therapist.
Start Small
Getting into a new routine of self-care and self-love sounds easy, right? It isn’t. We have to get
out of the mindset that taking care of ourselves means neglecting our responsibilities. Start
small. For example, give yourself a manicure, which My Best Choice Today explains is less expensive
than going to the salon. Your nails will look great, and your bank account won’t dwindle.
Another small change you can make is to prioritize eating breakfast every morning. Fueling
yourself up before you get going for the day gives you more energy, and eating high-protein
foods, such as eggs and Greek yogurt, can stave off hunger. You’ll be less likely to overindulge
at the snack machine before lunch. Not sure you have time to cook? You can quickly whip up a
healthy and delicious breakfast in less time than you think.
If your wardrobe is out of date, spend an afternoon shopping (or a few hours online) to look for
clothes that keep you comfortable but that are more appropriate in public than those worn-out
leggings you’ve been sporting for the last six months. A cute new dress, stretchy jeans, or a pair
of flats will go a long way toward helping you look as good as you feel.
Major Changes
Once you get comfortable treating yourself right in small ways, it’s time to turn your attention to
the bigger picture. Since we’ve just talked about work, let’s start there. Are you happy? Is there
too much gossip going on in the break room? Do you think you’re destined for more? (PayScale
reports that nearly half of all women think they are underemployed) The idea of walking away
from a job that you’ve had for any length of time is frightening. But there is nothing stopping you
from pursuing your passions, whether that’s business, criminal justice, psychology, nursing,
accounting, or something completely different than what you do now. You can easily earn your
bachelor’s or master’s from an online, accredited, and, importantly, affordable online college
while you continue to earn a paycheck and take care of your family.
Another life change that you might make is being more physically active. We often don’t realize
that we spend more time sitting than we do actively engaged in exercise, and the stagnancy can
be detrimental to our health. Commit to yourself and your family to start exercising together, and
you may find that many issues that plague you, such as insomnia, fatigue, and muscle stiffness,
fade away with each sweat session.
What Can I do If I Am Not Motivated To Do Any of The Above
Depression and anxiety can be debilitating mental health conditions that make it difficult to
function in day-to-day life. If all of the above efforts aren’t helping, it may be time to work with a
therapist. A professional can help you to better understand your condition and learn how to
manage your symptoms. In addition, therapy can provide a safe space for you to process your
thoughts and feelings, identify the root problem with motivation, and help develop healthy coping mechanisms. If you are struggling with depression or anxiety, consider reaching out to our group practice to speak to one of our clinicians. With the right support, you can start to feel better and live a fuller life.
When you open your eyes each morning, do you feel good about the day ahead? If not, it’s time
to make changes that help you put your best foot forward. The above ideas can get you started,
even if you want to start small. If you don’t do anything we’ve suggested this far, do make a
point to do something good just for yourself every day. You deserve it.
If you are looking for a Chicago Anxiety Therapist, contact us here for a free 15-minute phone consultation. Our specialties include EMDR therapy, Anxiety Therapy, Cognitive Behavior therapy, Relational/Psychodynamic therapy, and self compassion and mindfulness specialist.