Every once in a while, I find myself revising my self-care plan. After all, our nervous systems change across time (as a result of healing work, new life experiences, changing seasons, and the increase or decrease of stressors in our lives)… and our usual self-care tools may not work in the same way as before.

For example, songs that I used to play on an infinite loop to soothe my soul after a long day, don’t have quite the same impact as before – probably because I played them on an infinite loop 😅 and my brain got tired of hearing the same sounds. So, I’ve switched up my playlist over the years.

Having options for self-care is so important, not just for our own nervous system health, but also for the health of our communities.

When we feel resourced (running on 80% battery or more 🔋, instead of a precarious 10% 🪫), we have more capacity to participate in the collective care that is being asked of us in these times: to show up for each other with courage, humanity, & creative resistance against fascism.

(Because yes, every one of us has a role to play in building the world that we want to live in & dismantling the systems that cause so much trauma in the first place.)

Every nervous system that heals, rests, and is cared for, creates ripple effects for the collective healing of all.

So, what can self-care actually look like?

1 million+ different ways, but I’d start by asking: what type of sensory experience are you seeking?

🕺 If you desire movement: maybe self-care looks like, walking, dancing, or stretching today.

🧠 If your brain needs space to cognitively process your experiences: maybe you journal, call a friend, or record a voice memo to yourself.

🕯️ If your nervous system desires warmth & coziness: maybe you pour a cup of tea & light a candle.

🛏️ If you’re craving deep pressure: maybe you snuggle under a weighted blanket.

😂 If your body likes to regulate through deep belly laughs: maybe you turn on a comedy special. (I always giggle watching Josh Johnson and Gianmarco Soresi.)

(Let me know who is cracking you up lately. I’d love recommendations!)

🤲🏽 If you seek tactile stimulation & something to do with your hands while you sit in meetings: maybe you play with a fidget or untangle a ball of yarn.

There are possibilities & options for every nervous system, based on your sensory needs.

If you like auditory stimulation, and want to hear more reflections on self-care, you might enjoy this week’s podcast episode – more info below. 💗

Until next time, and with much care,

ON THE PODCAST | EP 9 Let’s Talk Self-Care: Brain Dumps, Inner Child, & Nature We’ve all heard how important self-care is — but actually building a self-care plan that works for your brain is a whole other story. If the typical advice, like “take a bubble bath!” or “have you tried meditating?”, simply doesn’t work for you… I created this episode with your needs in mind. I’ll share practical ideas of what self-care can look like, covering these themes: Brain dumps: what's your processing style? (cognitive, verbal, kinetic, visual, auditory) What does your inner child need? Which element of nature do you feel drawn to? (fire, water, earth, air) My hope is that you’ll leave this episode with 1-2 self-care ideas that you feel excited to explore (or revisit)… and the reminder that you are always deserving of care — in mind, in body, and in spirit. LISTEN HERE (22 min) 🌻

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P.P.S. If you’re interested in working together, I’d love to support you.

🌻 For folks who are overwhelmed & burnt out, but too busy for weekly therapy, I offer Nervous System Healing Intensives​ — three 90-minute sessions, using brain-body modalities (Brainspotting, IFS, EMDR) that go deeper than talk therapy & help you feel better, sooner.

Intensives are a type of short-term, accelerated therapy — for folks who prefer a hyper-focused approach to healing; who need longer than 50-min sessions to warm up & process deeply.

👉🏽 If you want to get an Intensive on the books, click here to book an intro call.

I help highly sensitive, neurodivergent adults heal their nervous systems & connect with their authentic selves.

💗 Need a nervous system reset? —> Join me for a Calm Place meditation.
📚 Curious to learn about neurodiversity + holistic healing? —> Peek at my blog.
🗞️ Want to catch up on old newsletters? —> Check out the archive.

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