• 705 241 8456
    190 Cundles Road East, Suite 307, Atrium Building , Barrie, ON L4M 4S5
    inquiry@newbeginningsbarrie.com

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • Ibukun Ogunsina | New Beginnings Barrie

    My WordPress Blog

    • Home
    • About
    • Services Provided
      • Services Overview
      • Individual Therapy
      • Couples Therapy
      • Online Therapy
      • Professional Workshops
      • Writing and Publishing
    • Getting Started
      • FAQs
      • Rates and Insurance
      • Client Forms
      • Appointment Request
    • Resources
      • Recent News
      • Mental Health Links
      • Physical Health Links
      • Events
    • Contact
    • Blog

    The Act of Self-Care

    April 2, 2019

    It was getting to the end of winter again and in my family, that time of the year comes with the joyful feeling of March Break and which translates to a week’s holidays for the children. My family takes much joy in vacations; whether we are engaging in road trips or flying, we like to take full advantage of the environment we are in. But this particular year, I had the idea to stay home instead of travelling to another place. I thought we should stay in and have a staycation. I felt lazy. I realised I was thinking of the packing and the number of hours on the road, but also deep down I knew I needed the break. I realized I have been extremely tired lately.

    The realization of the need for me to go on our yearly vacation did not register until a few days before the trip, our garage door broke down and I called for a guy to help fix it, while the guy was fixing the garage he asked me to pull out my car, so that he could re-centre the garage door to its proper place. I gladly got into my vehicle, and prior to this I could see the repairman’s vehicle outside my garage door, so I noted the need to be careful while reversing but alas, I drove straight into the car, my radio was on, and I heard the warning signals from my car but I thought I was only getting close to the flower pot in my peripheral view, the next thing I heard was a sound confirming that my bumper had brushed his vehicle. I have never been so embarrassed in my life, but my mind was definitely somewhere else, my thoughts were all over the place, I was physically tired and fatigued, I was multitasking, and my plates had been so full for a while, and it was apparent I needed a break. That was my final sign, a confirmation of the need to engage in self-care.

    You may be lucky, perhaps you have not done anything stupid like me, maybe you are on edge already snarling at your kids, or complaining about things you used to enjoy doing, you may find yourself possibly lacking energy…these may be signs that you need to take some time for yourself, to take a rest and engage in self-care. It may be time for that holiday or even a day of rest at home.

    Many women feel guilty for engaging in self-care activities, we look at all those piles of clothes to be folded, those dishes to be stacked in the dishwasher – yet we refuse to take a break. What if we were to delegate duties? The world will not crash if you decide to take a day off, the sun will still rise from the East and set in the West even if you chose to go on vacation, because when you decide to pamper yourself, you will regain your sanity back, boost your energy levels back up, you will be more compassionate and understanding towards your family members or the people that you work with and even be more productive and finally, I always tell my clients, you can only give from what you have, if you have nothing left and you are completely drained of energy, then what will you give your children, hubby or colleagues?

    As for me I did go on that vacation, I even had a full body massage done and I am back now with more energy and plans to slow down and engage in more self-care activities such as meditation, getting into bed earlier than before, listening to music and not passing by an opportunity to have power naps in the afternoon.

    If you want to know more about self-care activities and you feel you are already burnt out, and you need help, reach out to a therapist near you or do contact me at the address below. We all need to refuel and recharge.

    Written by Ibukun Ogunsina, New Beginnings Barrie, Psychotherapy and Counselling services.
    Website: www.newbeginningsbarrie.com
    E-mail: inquiry@newbeginningsbarrie.com
    Tel: +1 705 241 8456

    Share this:

    • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

    Related

    Filed Under: Uncategorized

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *



    190 Cundles Road East, Suite 307, Atrium Building
    Barrie, ON L4M 4S5
    705 241 8456 inquiry@newbeginningsbarrie.com


    "Don't walk through your toughest day alone. We're in this together."

    Contact Today

    By submitting this form via this web portal, you acknowledge and accept the risks of communicating your health information via this unencrypted email and electronic messaging and wish to continue despite those risks. By clicking "Yes, I want to submit this form" you agree to hold Brighter Vision harmless for unauthorized use, disclosure, or access of your protected health information sent via this electronic means.

    New Beginnings Barrie
    inquiry@newbeginningsbarrie.com | 705 241 8456

    A Website by Brighter Vision | Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2025 - Brighter Vision