Prioritizing Mental Health for People-Pleasers and High Achievers
Embrace Winter: A Perfect Time to Prioritize Your Mental Health
The holidays are over. Year-end business is done. The kids are back in school. You’re planning vacations but they aren’t here yet. It seems like it should be a time for taking it slow - but for people-pleasers and high-achievers it often feels like things are just as chaotic as usual. But...what if they didn’t have to be? For many of those who struggle with people-pleasing and anxiety the quieter, slower pace of winter can be a perfect time to slow down and make some changes - because what you’re doing now worked for a while...until it didn’t, which is why you often feel overwhelmed, anxious and resentful. But the good news is that it doesn’t have to keep being this way, and now is a great time break these patterns so you can stop surviving and start thriving.
Slower Pace, Deeper Reflection
Winter naturally encourages us to slow down. It’s colder, darker and even the foods we crave like soup and hot chocolate, tend to be consumed slower. The hustle and bustle of summer and fall have given way to a more subdued rhythm, providing a backdrop for introspection. For those grappling with anxiety and burnout, the seasonal slow down of winter is a gentle reminder to pause and reflect. Use this time to evaluate your personal and professional goals and boundaries. Are you overextending yourself to meet others' expectations? Feeling resentful about how much is on your plate? Frustrated that you still can’t find time to get to that to be read pile, for a walk or see that friend? If any of that sounds familiar, you are probably a high-achiever and a people-pleaser. If so, you’re not alone and it doesn’t have to keep being this way.
Therapy can help you unpack the roots of your people-pleasing tendencies, providing valuable insights into how these patterns contribute to anxiety and burnout (because trust me, they do). Winter therapy in particular can be a time to reset and recharge, learn how to stop people-pleasing, recover from burnout, and set boundaries with confidence.
Managing Isolation and Lack of Motivation
While winter’s quiet can be calming, it can also lead to feelings of isolation and decreased motivation. Here are some strategies to manage these challenges:
Stay Connected: Make an effort to maintain contact with friends and family, even if it’s a quick check-in or a coffee date.
Embrace Routine: Make sure you are drinking water, eating regular meals, and going to bedand getting up at consistent times as much as possible.
Have fun (seriously): Make time for something you enjoy doing just because you like it (a warm bath, your favorite tv show or podcast, reading a few chapters of that book you’ve been meaning to get to, etc). It can be really hard to make time for yourself when you’re so focused on taking care of others and meeting expectations, but taking care of yourself will actually help you take better care of others. And having fun is part of taking care of yourself. If you feel guilty taking time for yourself, all the more reason to start therapy.
Seek Sunlight: Maximize exposure to natural light during the day to boost your mood and energy levels.
Mindful Movement: Incorporate gentle exercises like walking, yoga or stretching to keep your body active and alleviate tension and anxiety. Movement helps our bodies process stress, anxiety and tension and improves our mood and energy.
Your Winter Wellness Journey
Winter is a season of transformation, a chance to prioritize your mental health and embrace change. If you're ready to take the first step, consider scheduling a session with a therapist who specializes in people-pleasing, anxiety, and burnout. As a licensed therapist in Colorado, I am here to support your journey towards a healthier, more balanced life.
Schedule a free consultation with me today and take the first step towards breaking the cycles of people-pleasing, burnout and anxiety. Together, we’ll create a personalized plan that honors your unique needs and sets the stage for lasting change.
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