Resources for Practicing Self-Care Right Now

We recently held the third and final part of our Idealist Live series, Self-Care for Everybody. In our final event, I had the opportunity to moderate an honest and informative conversation with Holistic Life Foundation’s Ali Smith and Jessica Kennedy of Mental Health America.

In our hour together, we explored questions and challenges as they relate to self-care during the current pandemic and atmosphere of national and international unrest. Our panelists offered their best resources (based both on personal and professional knowledge) and spoke to a variety of audience questions. You’ll find plenty of useful information below, as well responses to some of the questions that came up during the event that we didn't have quite enough time to cover.

Self-care 101

Let’s start with the basics:

• 1 hour of exercise a week is related to lower levels of mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders.
• 1/3 of people who improved diet and nutrition found full relief from depression.
• 1 in 3 Americans don’t sleep enough.
• People should aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night. 
• Number of and quality of friendships can influence your well being 30 years later.
• People who are good at identifying and labeling feelings are less likely to binge drink, be physically aggressive, or self-injure.
• Having good strong routines is linked to improved mental and physical health.

Resources for BIPOC folks

• Loveland Foundation focuses on therapy for Black women and girls in their effort to bring opportunity and healing to communities of color.
• Melanin & Mental Health was born out of a desire to connect individuals with culturally competent clinicians committed to serving the mental health needs of Black & Latinx/Hispanic communities.
• We R Native is a comprehensive health resource for Native youth, by Native youth, providing content and stories about the topics that matter most to them, striving to promote holistic health and positive growth.
• Therapy for Black Men notes that in the Black community, Black men are told to be strong, walk it off, don’t cry, and to man up. With TherapyForBlackMen.org, you do not have to go on this journey alone!
• Therapy for Latinx uses the latest technology to make it as easy as possible for people to find therapists, life coaches, emergency mental health centers, and free/low-cost community clinics.
• Well for Culture is a grassroots initiative which aims to reclaim and revitalize Indigenous health and wellness.

Resources for nonprofit professionals and those in the helping professions

• How to Cultivate Empathy in the Workplace During Difficult Times
• Under Pressure | Tips for Beating Workplace Stress
• What to Do When It’s More than Burnout | Dealing with Work-Related Trauma
• Feeling Disconnected? How Employee Resource Groups Can Help
• 5 Tips to Keep Your Work Burnout from Affecting Relationships
• 5 Effective Habits for Working from Home
• Resources for Job Seeking in Difficult Times
• Working from Home? How to Create Stronger Work-Life Boundaries

Additional resources

• Holistic Life Foundation workshops and trainings
• VIA Institute on Character’s Character Strengths survey offers you an comprehensive look at your top strengths as well as how to utilize those strengths in new ways each day in order to find joy and “flow.”
• Free resources to support your mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Mental Health America’s screening tool
• Mental Health America’s warmline phone calls
• Afraid to Talk About Sensitive Topics at Work? Read this Guide First