January has a reputation for urgency.
New goals. New habits. New versions of ourselves.
But for many people, January doesn’t feel like a fresh start—it feels like showing up tired to a room full of expectations.
Finding Balance in Opposites: Understanding Dialectics in Everyday Life
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.
Who's Really on First?
New year, new perspective
Here we are, 5 days into 2023…how’s it going? Did you set resolutions, goals, or intentions? Are you still going to the gym or are you craving cookies yet; they are hard to resist! If you are still working on finalizing your goals for 2023 (you’re not alone in that!) let me encourage you to incorporate the 4 pillars of wellness (physical health - sex + relationships - spirituality - career + education). Here are some prompts to consider.
Physical Health
Improve flexibility.
Get tested for food sensitivities that cause inflammation.
Consider taking supplements to support physical and mental health (e.g. omega’s, magnesium, turmeric).
Replace worn out fitness equipment (e.g. worn shoes, tired exercise bands, the rotting bike tires).
Sex + relationships
Establish or deepen communication with partner(s) about what turns you on and off sexually.
Review the values of you as individuals and as partners to see how the align.
Experiment with some kink play (e.g. light bondage, toys, role playing).
Create open and ongoing dialogue about non-sexual intimacy satisfaction in all your relationships.
Restore, create, or amend boundaries.
Spirituality
Build routines that feed your soul.
Volunteer, meditate, pray, journal.
Get outside. Move, get sunshine.
Call elders that you respect and learn from them.
Career + Education
Build intentionality in performance goals, whether they are measured by your employer or you.
Read some books for pleasure.
Learn a new skill or hobby, take a class at the local community college or education center. (Urban gardening anyone?).
Reflect on your career goals from 5th grade and where you are now. How did you get there? What’s different? What lessons can you pass onto others?
Looking ahead
I’ve been known to use cars as analogies when working with clients. Here’s another one. When we keep looking to the past we are looking in the rearview mirror. It’s small, it can be deceiving, and offers a limited view of what’s now behind us. But when we look to the future, through the windshield, we have a greater view of what’s ahead. We can maneuver our way through roadblocks, avoid construction zones, and enjoy the scenery along the way.
The same perspective applies to our wellness. When we keep looking backwards we may miss what’s in front of us. I encourage you continue looking ahead as you embrace your total wellness in 2023!
Be Well.
Sarah B.
