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What Self-Care Looks Like: Activities, Practices, and Why It Matters for Mental Health

Learn more about Individual Therapy in Montclair, NJ.

In this Blog, You'll Learn

✅ What self-care means and what self-care is not
✅ What self-care activities and self-care practices look like in real life

✅ How self-care reduces stress and helps mental health

✅ Why self-care is important for men, women, and families

✅ Myths about when self-care becomes selfish

✅ How to make self-care simple and easy

✅ How therapy supports long-term self-care

What Self-Care Really Means

People often ask: What self-care means? At its core, self-care is the intentional practice of taking steps to support your physical, emotional, and mental well-being.

What self-care is not: Escapism, ignoring responsibilities, or selfishness.
What self-care looks like: Small daily habits—like rest, mindful eating, or attending therapy—that help you show up as your best self.

At Mountains Therapy in Montclair, NJ, we remind clients that self-care is not indulgence—it’s maintenance for your mind and body.

What Are Self-Care Activities and Practices?

If you’ve ever wondered what self-care activities or what self-care practices you should do, start with simple, sustainable steps.

Examples include:

✍️ Journaling or meditation for emotional release
🧘 Exercise or yoga to strengthen body-mind connection
🛋️ Attending therapy sessions to process emotions
😴 Creating a quality sleep routine
🍎 Choosing nourishing meals and mindful eating
📵 Weekly digital detox for mental clarity
🤝 Connecting with loved ones for support

What are self-care items? tools that make these practices easier like a gratitude journal, calming teas, or noise-canceling headphones.

Can self-care be a hobby? Yes painting, gardening, or playing music can be powerful forms of emotional care.

How Self-Care Helps Mental Health

Many people ask: Can self-care help with depression? How self-care affects mental health?

How self-care reduces stress: By calming the nervous system and preventing burnout.
How self-care helps mental health: It creates structure, grounding, and a sense of control.
Why self-care is important for mental health: Without it, we’re more vulnerable to anxiety, depression, and emotional fatigue.

Even five minutes a day stretching, breathing, or drinking waterm can shift how you feel.

Self-Care is for Everyone

How to self-care for men: Focus on breaking stigma. Therapy, exercise, and open conversations are healthy masculine self-care practices.
Where to start with self-care: Choose one activity and build consistency before adding more.
Where did self-care come from? The concept has roots in medical care but now includes emotional and psychological well-being.
When is self-care day? International Self-Care Day is July 24, but September celebrates Self-Care Awareness Month.

Myths vs. Facts About Self-Care

Myth: Self-care is selfish.
Fact: Why self-care isn’t selfish → It allows you to better support others.
Myth: Self-care means expensive products.
Fact: You don’t need to wonder where to buy self-care products—it’s more about habits than purchases.
Myth: Self-care takes too much time.
Fact: Even two minutes of mindful breathing can reset your stress.

How Therapy Helps With Self-Care

Sometimes clients ask: What self-care can I do? Which self-care activities matter most? Therapy helps you answer these questions and create a personalized plan.

At Mountains Therapy, we use approaches that guide sustainable self-care, such as:

ACT – Acceptance Commitment Therapy in Montclair, NJ: Aligns daily self-care with your core values.
Attachment-Based Therapy in Montclair, NJ: Heals patterns that keep you from prioritizing yourself.
CBT – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Montclair, NJ: Restructures negative self-talk about rest and care.
DBT – Dialectical Behavioral Therapy in Montclair, NJ: Strengthens emotional regulation and distress tolerance.
EFT – Emotionally Focused Therapy in Montclair, NJ: Supports couples in balancing care for self and relationship.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy in Montclair, NJ: Anchors you in the present moment.
Narrative Therapy in Montclair, NJ: Rewrites the story of neglecting yourself.
Psychodynamic Therapy in Montclair, NJ: Uncovers deeper roots of self-care struggles.
SFT – Solution Focused Therapy in Montclair, NJ: Builds small, achievable steps for consistent care.
TF-CBT – Trauma-Focused CBT in Montclair, NJ: Helps those whose trauma disrupts their ability to self-care.

How to Make Self-Care Simple and Easy

Self-care doesn’t have to be complicated. Try these quick, accessible practices:

⏰ Start small – Just 5 minutes of meditation or stretching is enough.
💧 Hydrate – Keep a water bottle nearby and sip throughout the day.
📱 Take mini digital breaks – Step away from screens for even 2 minutes.
🌿 Get outside – A short walk in fresh air can calm your mind.
✍️ Write one gratitude note – Remind yourself of one good thing daily.
📅 Schedule therapy like self-care – Treat it as essential, not optional.
😴 Prioritize sleep – Set a bedtime reminder to wind down.

Small, consistent steps matter more than long, complicated routines.

FAQs About Self-Care

When self-care becomes selfish—how do I know?
It may cross into selfishness if it consistently harms or disregards others’ needs.
When is Self-Care Sunday?
Many people dedicate Sundays to rest, but it can be any day.
Who self-care month?
Organizations like WHO and mental health providers highlight global self-care practices each September.

Our Therapy Services at Mountains Therapy

At Mountains Therapy, we believe self-care and therapy go hand-in-hand. We provide:

Individual Therapy in Montclair, NJ: Personalized one-on-one sessions to focus on your needs
Couples Therapy in Montclair, NJ: Strengthening relationships and communication
Marriage Counseling in Montclair, NJ: Support for long-term partnership challenges
Family Therapy in Montclair, NJ: Improving family dynamics and connection
Online Therapy in NJ, NC, FL & UT:Convenient sessions for clients across NJ, NC, FL & UT

Start Therapy for your Self-Care

Self-care is not selfish—it’s necessary. At Mountains Therapy in Montclair, NJ, we help you discover what self-care looks like and create routines that nurture your mental health. Ready to start therapy as part of your self-care? Book Your Session today.