Self-Care For Empaths
When I think about self-care, the usual suspects come to mind: sheet masks, matcha latte’s, hitting snooze a few too many times. And while these are certainly great ways for anyone to unwind, Empath’s need to dig a little deeper in order to truly care for themselves and grapple with the challenges that everyday life brings them.
Life can be exhausting for an Empath. The littlest things that most people find enjoyable, like a trip to the farmer’s market or a visit to a museum, can be completely draining. Even a conversation with a good friend, or turning on the news can leave us feeling weak and vulnerable. Finding ways to balance being caring and holding place for others in our heart, while still keeping our boundaries strong is the key to self-care for an Empath.
Start your day with a grounding meditation. For Empath’s, meditating is like brushing your teeth. It should be done regularly, both once in the morning and once at night, with several touch-ups during the day. Try out my teacher Lisa Campion’s basic grounding meditation to get you started. It only takes five minutes and you can do it anywhere so long as your feet are on the ground- I even do it in the shower. This meditation will bring you back into your body and ground you in the earth. I take bathroom breaks throughout the day as well to do some breathing techniques (I call these touch-ups). Breathe in for five seconds, hold for five, release for five, and repeat.
When you get more comfortable with grounding, add a clearing and protecting meditation into the mix. This will help shield from you outside energy that you don’t want penetrating your own energy field.
An important note: Just because you ground and clear your energy field does not mean you will suddenly lose all the great parts of being an Empath. You can hold space for people’s emotions and trauma in your heart without taking them on yourself. There’s a very fine line between these two things, and practicing the meditation techniques as well as setting good boundaries will keep you from getting overwhelmed while still being the kind, compassionate healer you were meant to be.
Set boundaries and learn to say no. Honestly, I have never been good at this, and I’m still working on boundaries myself. As Empath’s, we were born to help others, and saying no can be an incredible challenge. I think the best way to start this is to lead by example. Try it out on your closest community of loved ones by coming to them for assistance. Before you pour your heart out, ask them first if this is a good time to talk, and if they’re emotional available. This conversation of consent will make it easier for you to say no later down the road when they are the ones coming to you for assistance, and it will make things easier with strangers too.
Get off your phone. This is another area where I really struggle. It’s so easy to numb ourselves after a long day by scrolling mindlessly through social media. And although it feels good in the moment, it’s actually deeply harming to Empath’s. Just as we can absorb energy through other people in a room, we can suck it in through a phone or tv as well. The photos or conversations you’re seeing on Instagram and Twitter are real people with very real energy. And by taking in their content mindlessly and at a rapid pace, we’re subjecting ourselves to a whole lot of sensory and emotional overload. Go outside and put your feet on the ground instead. If you can’t do that, buy some flowers and spend time arranging them. Do anything you can to get your feet or your hands on something from the Earth.
Eat healthy! Empaths are not only emotionally sensitive, but physically sensitive as well, especially to certain chemicals and artificial foods. Eating a clean diet is good for everyone, but especially those who are extra sensitive. If you know you’re going to have a long, emotionally draining day, be sure to fill up on all the good stuff to keep your mind clear.
There are so many great self-care tips for Empath’s out there- the list is endless! I recommend doing your own research and talking to a therapist or healer about what techniques are right for you and your lifestyle. Being an Empath can come with mental health challenges that you can’t ignore, and talking with a professional will help get you on the right track towards not just living, but thriving with this gift.