What’s In My Bag: Self-Care Toolkit Edition
Photo by Alexander Londoño on Unsplash
DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical or mental health professional. Everything I share is information gained through personal experience, professional help, and outside resources. It is your own personal responsibility to seek professional help and advice before implementing any life-altering practices. Everyone's mental health journey looks different. My story is just one of millions. If you are feeling lost, scared, alone, concerned, or just not right, I encourage you to connect with a mental health professional. Don't wait until it becomes a crisis.
The “What’s In My Bag” Trend
You’ve seen the trend:
Celebrities, influences, bloggers, and YouTubers spilling the contents of their purses, suitcases, backpacks, and diaper bags to reveal what’s inside. What started as a way of relating to those we’ve put on a pedestal has shifted into a desire to gain knowledge from those we see as authorities in their fields.
Maybe the world travelers have learned the best way to fold a shirt to save precious luggage space. Maybe the seasoned mom has an ingenious unexpected find to calm a teething infant. Perhaps even the world’s wealthiest and well-known still think Target-brand lipstick is the best.
Yes, we may want to feel a trivial connection to those we perceive as better off. But we also want to learn from the experience of those who have been there first or have had broader opportunities and access to the world.
As someone who has had life experience others may not - in the realm of struggling with mental health - I thought it may be helpful to “dump one of my bags” for you: my always growing self-care toolkit.
These are the practices and resources I pull from to aid in my mental wellness and daily management of mental illness symptoms.
Alright, here we go…
WHAT’S IN MY BAG:
MY SELF-CARE TOOLKIT
Yoga
Screentime for Kids
“Tank-Draining” Shower*
Going Screen-Free
Movement/Exercise
Music, Especially through Headphones/Earbuds
Healthy Procrastination
Clearing Clutter
Dance Party
Time in Nature
Staying Off Social Media
Creating Art
Sitting in Silence
Seeing a Therapist
Date Night
Time Alone
New or Favorite Show/Movie
Connecting with Friends
Exploring a New Place
Mentally Pausing for a Few Moments
Taking Ownership of Mistakes
Listening to Mind/Body/Soul
Laughing with My Hubby
Being Silly with My Kids
Bright, Naturally Lit Spaces
Gratitude List
Journaling
Soaking Up Sunshine
Houseplants
Sweet Treats (In Moderation)
Watching Sunrise/Sunset
Long Hug from a Family Member
Deep Breathing
Walk
Surfing
CBD Gummies**
Walking Around Outside in Bare Feet (aka “Earthing”)
Fantasizing/Day Dreaming
Recalling Memories of Personal Resilience
List Making
Using Logic vs Emotion Without
Disregarding EitherHaving the House to Myself
*Taking a hot shower so long, the water goes cold. Yes, the environmentalist in me shakes her head, but I’ve learned sometimes it’s the only practice that will work in the way I need it to.
**CBD Gummies were suggested by my doctor as an “as needed” way to treat my anxiety after they determined it would be beneficial. Consult your physician and do your research before starting any new treatments or supplements.
So, was my list what you were expecting? Did anything in particular surprise you?
As you probably assume, this isn’t a complete list, and honestly, I’ll probably never be able to make one. As we grow and learn more about ourselves, our self-care toolkit expands and changes - even sometimes on a daily basis. Our favorite practices may grow ineffective, or our eyes may open to ones we’ve been using unconsciously for years. That’s ok. See it as a sign you’re on the right path. The learning, the growing, and the changing is what makes up your journey in finding and maintaining mental wellness.
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