I asked our therapists to share some things they loved in 2023. Here’s what they had to say:

Haley

A mindful practice I incorporated into my routine beginning in 2023 comes to mind. I try to cover all 5 senses - open the window/blinds, light a candle, turn on background music, grab a hot coffee and a blanket, then set a 10 minute timer on my phone - setting an intention not to look at it for those 10 minutes and *attempt* to immerse myself in the present moment. What this really helped me with was observing where my brain was going in those 10 minutes - there were mornings that I was drawn to my phone more than others, or some mornings when those 10 minutes either felt like 30 seconds or 30 minutes just depending on my head space. I, then, tried to keep these observations in mind for my day and tend to the related needs as I could. It's not a meditation and it's not even solely being in the present moment; it's really just giving myself space to observe where I am mentally and emotionally void of the constant distractions that are built into our lives at the onset of the day. (And it doesn't need to be 10 minutes, that's just a timeframe that is digestible for me).

Tanya

Something that I've loved in 2023 that I want to carry into the new year is trying to do just one thing at a time. It's a mindfulness practice that avoids too much multi-tasking, like if I'm watching TV, I can't also scroll on my phone. If I'm cooking, I focus on one step at a time.

Allie

In 2023 I started fully embracing solo time. As a mom, solo time is hard to come by and something I never fully appreciated before. I did things like enjoying breakfast at my favorite neighborhood coffee shop (Proud Hound) by myself, and booked facials in the middle of the day (shoutout to Grace & Grit) because I had a gap in my schedule. These seemingly simple things brought me such joy and peace. I will continue to hold space for the quiet, the simple, and the mundane solo moments in 2024.

Alyza

I read so many good books in 2023, therapy-related and otherwise. But one of my favorites that gave me a lot to chew on was Real Self Care by Pooja Lakshmin. She breaks self care into principles and methods. For example: a principle might be “it’s important to me that I find time to rejuvenate and unplug”. The methods to live by this principle look like taking time off from work every quarter, setting boundaries with your social media consumption, or making sure to block time off on your calendar for solo evenings. One thing I really loved about Pooja’s take on self care is that she goes beyond the “bubble baths and crystals” definition of self care (which can be methods), and focuses on how self care can look like setting boundaries, asking for help, and living according to your values. Pooja also does a fantastic job of acknowledging the role that race, gender, sexuality, and socioeconomic status play in how these marginalized communities have to approach self-care differently.

Written by: Alyza Moore