Creating a Psychological Self-Care Plan is an important part of your mental health toolbox. It helps you avoid feeling overwhelmed and gives you techniques to use when things get difficult. Taking care of yourself will make you a better mother, father, teacher, caregiver and community member. It can also help you to prevent health conditions like heart disease or a stroke. Self-care activities can train your mind, help you relax and even boost your mood.

Mindful Maintenance: Crafting an Effective Psychological Self-Care Strategy for Well-being

To create a Psychological Self-Care Plan, begin by thinking about your daily needs and what you value in life. This might be something like spending time with friends, exercising, meditation or yoga. It might also be something like learning, working on your own professional development or getting coaching/counseling. It’s important to note what you find personally valuable and what you don’t value so that you can make a plan that best supports your emotional, psychological, social, physical, environmental, and spiritual health.

Once you’ve created a plan, think about what might get in the way of your self-care plan and how you might be able to remove these barriers. Then consider what positive strategies you might be able to add to your toolbox and try them out for a few weeks before evaluating and tweaking as needed.

Finally, be sure to share your plan with others – your community of care – who can support you and hold you accountable. They can also help you brainstorm new ideas for coping with stressors and provide emotional support during emotionally difficult times.