×
  • Search
    Generic filters
    Exact matches only
  • Your 1st Appointment
    • Make Appointment
    • Therapy & Counseling Facts
    • Therapy for All Ages
    • Paying for Services
  • Services
    • What We Treat
    • Inpatient Services
      • West Springs Psychiatric Hospital
      • Women’s Recovery Center
      • Circle Program
    • Outpatient Services
      • Aspen
      • Craig
      • Eagle
      • Frisco
      • Glenwood Springs
      • Granby
      • Grand Junction
      • Meeker
      • Rangely
      • Rifle
      • Steamboat Springs
      • Vail
      • Walden
    • Other Programs
      • Respite Services
      • Peer Support
      • Oasis Clubhouse
      • MAT
      • Supported Employment Service
  • Resources
    • Resources For Coping In Today’s World
      • Mental Health First Aid
      • Suicide Prevention
      • Talking With Others In Mental Distress
      • Coping Tips For Trauma & Distress
      • When Major Events Happen
      • Multiply Your Happy
      • Mental Health Care Kit
      • Resiliency Skills Training
      • Guided Meditations
    • Professional-Resources
      • Physician Referrals
      • General Referrals
      • Medication Assisted Therapy
      • Thought Leadership & Trainings
    • Understanding Mental Health Disorders
    • Understanding Drug & Alcohol Addiction
    • Forms & Documents
    • Client Advocacy
  • Careers
    • All Open Positions
    • Internships & Practicums
    • Benefits Package
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
      • Mind Springs Health FAQ
      • Board Of Directors
      • Our Psychiatric Team
      • Leadership Team
      • People & Locations
    • Partnerships
      • West Slope Casa
      • Zero Suicide
    • For The Media
    • Blogs & More
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
  • GIVE
  • Search
    Generic filters
    Exact matches only

A Peer’s Perspective: Self Care Conversation

By Jill Davis

A Peer’s Perspective: Self Care Conversation
July 23, 2019Featured ArticlesMental Health General

Self-care has been a challenge for me and a number of people that I have spoken with over the years. While it’s an essential part of balancing both our physical and mental well-being, it is definitely one area that many put off or just don’t even attempt. I have heard (and used, truth be told) feedback such as “I’m just too busy”, “it’s just selfish to take time for me” and even “I can’t afford to”. Well friends, I’d like to offer that we truly can’t afford NOT to, and share what I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way!).

You have a friend over for a visit. You’ve baked some of your ‘world-famous’ snickerdoodle cookies and you’ve made some refreshing sweet tea. There’s a playlist of songs that have some nostalgia for you both, and when together time just stands still. Sounds great so far! As the afternoon progresses, you have snacked, laughed, reminisced and finished the tea. Your friend asks if you have any more as they offer you the glass. You hold the empty pitcher and attempt to refill their beverage. Well, as you may have guessed, not a drop comes out no matter how much you try. Much to your chagrin, you are out of everything you need to make more and try as you may, the pitcher remains empty. Well, this is a bit of a situation, isn’t it? The only way that more is going to come out of that pitcher is if you replenish the supply. Can you see the connection?

Life is just packed with work, caregiving, parenting, housecleaning, paying bills, being with friends and family and anything else that fills our time and attention. It’s exhausting to say the least! Are you at the point of being just like that empty pitcher, still trying to pour out to others and not replenishing your supply? If so, I imagine that you are, like I have been, ready to crash and burn.

It is vital to carve time out of the busyness for yourself. This may mean creating healthy boundaries by sometimes saying no. The alternative is more of the status quo. As a single parent, I used to think that it was selfish to not end up on the back burner. Here’s what I learned: if I didn’t carve out time for myself, I not only was offering them a lesser version of myself, I was also not modeling this for them. I had to chuckle recently when I looked to spend time with my teenaged daughter and her respectful response was “I’m having me time, is that ok?” Seems like I have taught her well!

On an airplane, flight attendants give instructions about the oxygen masks, noting that it’s important to place the mask first over your own mouth and nose before placing it over those children next to you. Why is that? Because without first taking care of ourselves, we are no good to those that rely on us. Great parallel there!

Even though it might not always feel like it, you are so worth the time and effort and care that you so generously lavish on others! I’d like to challenge you to make time for self-care over the next few days, whatever that may look like. A few extra minutes in the bath? Fishing? Hiking? Rest? What will make you a better you?

Jill Davis is Peer Services Coordinator for Mind Springs Health. She or any one of our peers are happy to converse about self-care and how to be mentally healthy anytime. Drop her a line at Peers@MindSpringsHealth.org

Featured Articles

  • Message from Doug Pattison: Response to media messages May 23

    Mind Springs Health appeared in the news frequently recently, following the release of a tri-agency audit conducted by the State of Colorado. All three efforts...

  • Doug Pattison’s Message Regarding Recent Articles Mar 24

    The need for behavioral health services is growing in Colorado, now more than ever. For all of us in this industry, we know that there...

  • Doctor says telehealth ‘not going anywhere’ Mar 15

    While virtual learning has certainly garnered no shortage of critics over the last two years, a similar but unrelated pandemic technology has received earnest praise....

Categories

  • Featured Articles (74)
  • In the News (55)
  • Mental Health General (56)
    • Depression and Anxiety (1)
    • Resiliency (5)
  • Substance Use Disorders (15)
    • Recovery Newsletters (10)
  • Suicide Awareness & Prvention (1)
  • Tools and Resources (31)
  • Uncategorized (1)
SEE ALL BLOG POSTS

HELPFUL LINKS

FORMS AND DOCUMENTS
MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES
TREATMENT LOCATIONS
CAREERS
EVENTS
FAQ
NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

LEGAL

CLIENT RIGHTS
HIPAA PRIVACY NOTICE
NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION
PRIORITY POPULATIONS
PRIVACY POLICY
TERMS OF USE
NEEDS ASSESSMENT

The Latest in Behavioral Health

  • Message from Doug Pattison: Response to media messages May 23

    Mind Springs Health appeared in the news frequently recently, following the release of a tri-agency audit conducted by the State...

  • Doug Pattison’s Message Regarding Recent Articles Mar 24

    The need for behavioral health services is growing in Colorado, now more than ever. For all of us in this...

  • Doctor says telehealth ‘not going anywhere’ Mar 15

    While virtual learning has certainly garnered no shortage of critics over the last two years, a similar but unrelated pandemic...

Site designed with ❤ by
©2022 Mind Springs Inc. All Rights Reserved