The Labor of Mental Wellness: Honoring the Work We Do for Ourselves

As Labor Day arrives, many of us think about hard work in terms of careers, achievements, and the physical or intellectual effort we give to our jobs. But there’s another kind of labor we often overlook—the labor of caring for our mental, emotional, and physical health.

Just as a strong career is built through years of dedication, growth, and resilience, so too is our wellness. Tending to our mental health is not a one-time task; it is an ongoing practice that requires intention, patience, and effort.

The Daily Effort of Being Well

• Mental Labor: It takes effort to quiet anxious thoughts, challenge unhelpful beliefs, or allow ourselves moments of rest. Therapy, journaling, or mindfulness practices don’t provide instant results—they work because we return to them consistently.

• Emotional Labor: Choosing to feel, process, and express emotions rather than suppressing them is courageous work. Setting healthy boundaries in relationships and allowing ourselves to be vulnerable takes energy, but it strengthens our resilience.

• Physical Labor: Movement, sleep, and nutrition are forms of labor we invest in our future selves. Even small steps, like stretching, walking, or drinking more water, represent an act of caring for our whole being.

Honoring the Invisible Work

Unlike the labor we perform for a paycheck, the labor of self-care and wellness is often invisible—and yet, it is foundational. Each time you choose to go to therapy, take a mindful breath, or simply rest when you need it, you are engaging in meaningful work that sustains your ability to show up for others and for yourself.

This Labor Day, Reflect and Reframe

Instead of focusing only on the external labor we do for jobs and productivity, let’s also honor the effort it takes to be well. Ask yourself:

• What kind of labor am I doing for my mental health?

• Where might I need to give myself more compassion and rest?

• How can I celebrate the progress I’ve already made in tending to my well-being?

Caring for our mental wellness is not easy—

it takes time, intention, and labor. But just as society thrives because of collective work, our lives flourish when we honor the effort we put into caring for ourselves. This Labor Day, let’s pause not only to celebrate our professional contributions but also to recognize the invisible, essential work of becoming and staying well.

If you’re ready to continue the work of caring for your mental health, know that you don’t have to do it alone. Our practice is here to walk alongside you, offering support, tools, and encouragement as you navigate your journey. Reaching out for help is a powerful step—and one more way to honor the labor of caring for yourself.

Celebrate the Small Wins: A Therapist's Perspective

Celebrate the Small Wins: A Therapist's Perspective

A mental health therapist often sees individuals focused on major life changes, overarching recovery goals, or profound transformations sought in therapy. However, the small victories are important. These moments along the way can make all the difference in sustaining momentum and fostering a positive mindset.

Why are these small victories so important?

Celebrating even the smallest achievements has a profound impact on well-being from a psychological standpoint. It is about recognizing the effort, courage, and resilience to take even one step forward.

Here's a glimpse into the power of celebrating small wins:

Boosting Motivation & Reinforcing Positive Behaviors: The brain responds to rewards. Celebrating small accomplishments, such as successfully managing a panic attack or attending therapy sessions consistently, triggers the release of dopamine—that feel-good chemical that boosts mood and motivates the repetition of positive actions. This creates a positive feedback loop, fueling further progress.

Building Self-Esteem and Confidence: Acknowledging even minor advancements in therapy, like a breakthrough insight or improved coping skills, helps individuals build a more positive self-image and strengthens their belief in their ability to achieve larger goals.

Shifting Focus from Negativity: Therapy often involves confronting painful experiences. Celebrating successes, however small, helps balance this perspective and shifts the focus to what's going well, fostering a hopeful and positive outlook.

Making Progress Tangible: In recovery and therapy, progress can sometimes feel slow or invisible. Celebrating small victories, such as days of sobriety or successful self-care practices, makes progress tangible and provides a sense of accomplishment.

Fostering Mindfulness: Recognizing and celebrating small wins encourages mindfulness by promoting awareness of present accomplishments, rather than dwelling on past failures or future anxieties.

Strengthening Support Systems: Sharing successes with loved ones, friends, or support groups enhances social bonds, reduces feelings of isolation, and fosters a sense of community, all of which are crucial for maintaining motivation and promoting long-term recovery.

Building Resilience: Celebrating small victories strengthens the ability to handle setbacks. By focusing on accomplishments, individuals learn to see challenges as temporary hurdles rather than insurmountable obstacles.

How can you start celebrating your small wins?

Journaling: Keep a progress journal to track achievements, no matter how minor. Reflecting on what has been overcome can be incredibly validating.

Self-Care: Engage in activities that nourish the mind, body, and spirit. Treat yourself to something enjoyable to acknowledge hard work.

Sharing: Share successes with your support network. Their encouragement can amplify positive feelings.

Mindfulness: Take time to reflect on your journey and appreciate the progress you've made.

Create Rituals: Develop personal rituals to mark achievements, whether it's a special meal or a symbolic token.

Every step forward, no matter how small, is a testament to strength and deserves to be celebrated. Embrace the power of celebrating small wins, and you'll find yourself fueled with motivation, resilience, and a growing sense of self-worth as you continue on your journey.

Social Synergy

As humans, we are social beings. We want to belong to a group; connect with others. Let’s take a closer look at two constructs of being social; social connection and social support.

what’s the difference?

Social connection and social support play immensely significant roles in enhancing human well-being, leading to a more satisfying and joyful existence. Social connection entails the profound sense of belonging and integration within a community or network of people. It encompasses the establishment of meaningful bonds with friends, family, colleagues, or even casual acquaintances, fostering a deep-seated feeling of belonging and the sharing of life's valuable moments.

Conversely, social support manifests as the invaluable provision of both practical and emotional aid, offered and received, specifically during times of adversity. It encompasses the sure availability of essential resources, encompassing compassionate advice, empathy, and genuine assistance from those we hold dear.

The Synergy

The synergistic presence of social connection and social support serves as a paramount factor in nurturing our mental and emotional well-being. The recipient has the gift of an encompassing sense of acceptance, affection, and unwavering encouragement.

The crux is that we need them both in our lives. Relationships, close or peripheral, provide us the means to met our needs and contribute to the continuation of cultural and social constructs. Our need for support will wax and wane through life’s circumstances. We can give and receive support as needed.

It’s important to note that connection and support are given and received uniquely for each individual. The variety, frequency, duration, and intensity of this synergistic presence is as prolific as there are individuals. Discovering what you want or need from these roles takes time, exposure to the variety, and patience in understanding yourself. Likewise, what we can offer others, whether through connection or support, is also largely dependent upon our ability and interest to proffer the synergy to our circle.

Social synergy is about meeting our needs, whether they are innate needs for belonging and fellowship, or psychological and emotional bonding through shared experiences. In the end, it affords total wellness.

Be Well.