The Sea Is a Balm for My Soul

Author

Dr. Jennifer Chain is the President and Owner of Thrive for the People. 

I spent this past weekend on the Oregon Coast with my parents, my partner, and our two dogs. I didn't realize how much I needed this time away until I came back on Sunday night and I noticed that my shoulders were a little less tense and my outlook a little more optimistic. Taking a walk on the beach, even on a cloudy day, was so healing. Research shows the sense of awe that I felt from taking in the beauty of the ocean can biologically boost my immune system and my mood. ​

Most of the time I live in survival mode, just getting through my days, weeks, and months without looking up to see where I am going and why I am headed that way. The survival mode is a remnant from my grad school days. This kind of digging deep and pushing through, although helpful in the short term to get things done, wears on me over time. If I stay in the survival mode too long, I start to see the early signs of burnout, such as misplacing my belongings and forgetting what day of the week it is. Eventually, a fog of numbness settles in. 

This weekend was a good reminder to prioritize and practice self-care. After the weekend away, I feel much more ready to welcome my week with open arms rather than hiding under my covers when Monday morning arrives. I love this blog post from a favorite feminist blog on why self-care does not need an excuse. I need to practice self-care because... just because. ​

How do you care for yourself? ​