Rest day after therapy

I sometimes get caught up in work with the mindset of “I have to do this task” and “I can certainly fit this into my diary.” I seem to have viewed my own therapy as just another task that can be squeezed into a busy routine.

Recently, I learned from a client that taking a day off after the initial therapy sessions is actually a very good idea.

Starting therapy can be stressful and daunting, as it can feel like I am opening up with someone I’ve just met. Usually, when I seek therapy, I am at a point of struggling and needing help. Definitely not in a good shape.

I thought attending therapy regularly was quite an initiative of self-care, but sometimes I just fall into a mindset of wanting to fix things quickly and efficiently, without realising that being slow doesn’t necessarily equate to ineffective, and may even be beneficial.

I think giving myself some time to fully transition in and out of therapy is a much better way of self-care and works in synergy with the deep reflections done during a therapy session. Telling myself that therapy doesn’t just end as I say goodbye to my therapist, if I just let myself ponder and reflect a little longer, I am sure I’ll get more out of it.

It makes sense to take some rest after doing some heavy lifting rather than going straight back to work, right?

I’m going to ask myself more often: “Are you giving yourself enough time to process what you’ve learned from therapy?”

“You deserve the time to rest.”