Finding the Time to Manage Your Mental Health
I love therapy. Not just because that’s what I do, but also because I’ve done it, and had huge benefits from it. However, there have definitely been points in my life where I felt like I needed therapy, and the main thing preventing me from getting it was time and/or accessibility. As a single working mom of three kids, there’s barely any time in the day to do the most basic of human functions, like eating and sleeping, much less a “luxury” activity such as therapy. So what’s a person to do?
Well, first off, you (and I) need to remember one of my favorite expressions: you can’t pour from an empty cup.
In other words, if you are so emotionally and mentally drained, you cannot possibly function at maximum capacity. Or maybe you can go at maximum capacity, but your output is… let’s say, less than ideal.
Ok, so I don’t need to sell you on the importance of therapy anymore (right? And if not, I’ll make sure to address it in a future post).
“But, Amanda,” you say, “I simply don’t have another hour in the day to spend sitting in an office chatting with someone, much less the time it takes to get there, and also, eff that horrid Dallas/Houston/Austin/San Antonio traffic!”
Fine. I totally hear you. I also once worked a job where I spent more than 10 hours a week in the car and I just. About. Died. Not literally, thank goodness, but seriously spending that amount of time in the car every week is brutal. So let’s eliminate the barrier of traffic.
“But, Amanda,” you say, “I barely see my kids from the time I pick them up to the time I get them to bed, so after school hours are a no go, and it’s not like I can leave them in their beds while I go out and get therapy. And I have work! I can’t be missing an hour of work every week!!”
I got you. I’ve been there, getting side-eye from the coworkers who grumble because I need to go to my weekly appointment AGAIN. Or not wanting to give up what little precious time I have with my children, because babies don’t keep, and I cherish that after school/dinner/bedtime routine. Let’s take away that barrier too.
“What is this magic time machine you speak of, Amanda?”
Simple. Online/teletherapy.
No more traffic. No more wondering where you’re gonna squeeze another hour out of your day. Do you have time to do a therapy session in your car instead of going to lunch? Are you comfortable doing it from your bedroom (PJs optional) after the kids have gone down? How about early in the morning before everyone in the household wakes up? Or better yet, pair it with a walk early in the morning.
That is the beauty of online therapy. The convenience is unparalleled. It’s a growing field, and more therapists are enticed by it every day (hey, we like to work in our PJs too!). I’ve had clients take me shopping with them, talk to me during their daily walk, chat with me during their commute, converse while making dinner, and a myriad of other situations.
I’ll play devil’s advocate and say, yes, it would be ideal if you were 100% focused on the therapy session; however, if it comes down to you getting some slightly distracting therapy (which, really, what don’t we do in a slightly distracted state nowadays?) then NO therapy… I’ll go for slightly distracted any day.
Take it into consideration. Because you deserve to work towards a balanced life.