Feeling Your Best: The Power Of Self-Care

Every year, Rocket hosts a Mental Health Summit for team members. This year, the theme was Resilience: Our Power Within. Resilience is a skill that can be developed and strengthened, and knowing how to combat the stress and impacts of life's inevitable challenges in all aspects of our lives can improve our mental health and help us thrive.

I’ve been at Rocket for over three years, but this year was my first time attending the summit! I thought I'd share my takeaways from one of this year’s speakers. We had the opportunity to hear from Michelle Shimeck, LPC from Rock Health Collective, about the importance of self-check-ins and supporting each other. Here’s what I learned from her insightful talk at the summit.

Many of us are guilty of powering through our days, attending to our jobs, meeting our family's needs and getting lost in endless to-do lists, only to feel completely drained by the end of the week. I know I feel that way. Of course, we've all heard about self-care, but how many of us prioritize it regularly? According to Michelle, statistics show that only 30% of Americans set aside time for self-care. Even more concerning, one in three Americans feel guilty about taking time for themselves, and over three-quarters report symptoms of stress, including headaches. A staggering 80% of U.S. workers say they experience job-related stress.

Michelle emphasized that self-care involves attending to the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of your life to promote overall health and wellness. She compared it to unplugging and resetting electronic devices: almost everything works better if you unplug it for a few minutes or do a reset, including us as humans!

At this point, I want to acknowledge that for anyone diagnosed with ADHD or a similar unseen disability, the following suggestions can still be daunting. Remember that forgetting about ‘new habits’ is not a failure, and above all else, embrace “progress over perfection.”

Michelle stated that starting a self-care routine doesn’t have to be a giant overwhelming task. You can begin with a few minutes a day. Here are some simple yet effective self-care practices she suggested:

1. Diaphragmatic Breathing: It’s a great way to calm your mind and body.
2. Positive Affirmations: Start your day by looking in the mirror and affirming, "I'm going to have a good day. I won't let anxiety get the best of me."
3. Decluttering: Spend five minutes organizing your space. A tidy environment can help clear your mind.
4. Gratitude Practice: Write down three things you’re grateful for each day or a few times a week.
5. Stretching: Release tension and anxiety with some simple stretches.
6. Daily Habits: Simple actions like making your bed or sitting down to eat breakfast can set a positive tone for your day.

Taking care of yourself is crucial so you can effectively do your daily tasks and care for yourself and others. Ignoring self-care can lead to warning signs like isolation and burnout. If you recognize these signals, it's time to check in with yourself.

Michelle shared a story about someone she worked with, whom she called Maya. Maya worked long hours, neglected her needs, and rarely took time for self-care. One day, she realized how overwhelmed and exhausted she was and knew something had to change. She began carving out time each day for herself. Whether it was spending an extra hour in bed on Sunday mornings, treating herself to her favorite meal or simply taking a few moments to breathe deeply, Maya made self-care non-negotiable in her routine. Over time, she noticed significant positive changes in her life.

Practicing self-care regularly offers numerous benefits:

1. Reduced Stress: Regular self-care activities can lower stress levels.
2. Improved Mental Health: Taking time for yourself can improve your mood and mental well-being.
3. Increased Productivity: When you feel better, you perform better.
4. Enhanced Relationships: Self-care allows you to be more present and supportive in your interactions with others.

While incorporating self-care into your daily routine can seem like an elusive luxury, it's a necessity at any level that you can manage to implement it. Start small and gradually build little changes into your day that prioritize your well-being. Remember, taking care of yourself is the foundation for being able to take care of everything else in your life. Let’s make self-care a non-negotiable part of our lives!

Rocket empowers team members to prioritize health and wellness.