Prioritize Your Mental Health

Finding time for mental health appointments while managing a job, family, and social life can feel overwhelming… but it doesn’t have to be.  At Birch Grove Mental Health, we know how important mental wellness is, especially when life feels non-stop. Whether you’re navigating meetings, deadlines, parenting, or caregiving, prioritizing your mental health is not just possible – it’s essential.

Those are the easy words… all too often, I see new patients who have put off their own mental health due to competing priorities.  They know well that without a sound head and body, we cannot perform at our best in any of those prioritized areas of our lives.  Prioritizing ourselves and our well-being means we are preparing to do our best in all of the arenas we work, play, and live, for all of those we want to do well by.

Almost nobody is immune to pushing off self-care to just get through what may seem like a list longer than there are minutes in the day.  But for folks with unmanaged mental health issues, the challenges to perform at their best are compromised from the start.

For instance, someone with unmanaged anxiety may feel a sense of social isolation, disruptions to daily routines, and a sense of being disconnected from the world around them.  Anxiety can act as a barrier, making it harder to maintain relationships, feel confident at work, enjoy activities, or even just get through the punch list of the day.  Essentially one step removed from moving through the world with confidence.

Depression is similar in that it sidelines you from performing at your best for the people that matter to you most.  Unmanaged depression makes even simple activities feel overwhelming, making life feel like a bit of a struggle.   One may lose interest in things that once brought them joy, have trouble concentrating, or feel disconnected from others.  There is for sure no “A” game related to unmanaged depression.

The point is that untreated or unmanaged mental health issues result in our bringing our B game to the table.   I start with our families and friends as folks I need to perform well for, all the time… because you only get so many family and friends.  Work and hobbies come right in close behind as places we need to drive and be our best.  If your mental health is taking a backseat to all other priorities, then we know we cannot attend to them at the level we are capable of and aspire to.

Making time and taking the essential steps in your life to take care of you means taking care of those people and activities you prioritize.  Don’t be sidelined from bringing your best self to the table every day.  Investing in yourself will inevitably benefit you and everyone your world touches.

These tips below can be helpful as a guide, but for some taking the first steps toward constructive treatment can seem gigantic.  At Birch Grove Mental Health we will be sure you are guided step by step toward a fresh beginning.
Here are a few ways to balance work and therapy:

Try Telehealth Appointments

Virtual sessions offer flexibility without the commute. You can connect with your provider from home, during your lunch break, or even from your parked car between errands. Our providers offer telehealth options across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire.

Block It Like a Meeting

Think of you-time as a non-negotiable meeting with yourself. Add it to your calendar and treat it with the same priority you would give to a work commitment.

Choose the Right Time

Some people prefer morning sessions to start the day grounded, while others find relief in decompressing after work. We offer a variety of appointment times to match your rhythm (even super early)

Be Honest with Your Therapist

Let your provider know what your schedule looks like and what’s realistic for you. They can help you build tools and strategies that work within the life you already lead.