What’s the Point of Self-Care—and Does It Even Work???
Discover how self-care for mental health helps reduce stress and build resilience. Read more from Melanated Healing’s wellness experts.
I totally get how self-care can feel like that annoying thing people—aka therapists—keep reminding you to do. When you’re feeling overwhelmed or stretched thin, self-care can seem like it solves absolutely nothing. But I promise you, it does! Consistent care for yourself can literally change your brain.
Neuroplasticity is defined as the “capacity for our brain cells to change in response to our behavior” (Eichinger, 2018). That means when you regularly engage in healthy habits, your brain actually starts to rewire itself to handle stress and emotions better. Pretty wild, right?
Self-Care Doesn’t Erase Stress—It Strengthens You
Caring for yourself doesn’t make stressors disappear or heavy emotions magically fade away. What it does do is ground you, increase your capacity, and rejuvenate you—at least a little.
When you think of self-care, what comes to mind? Maybe a massage, facial, a day off work, or a weekend with no kids? Sure, it can be those things—but it can also be something completely different depending on who you are and what fills you up.
What Self-Care Looks Like for Me
For me, self-care looks like taking classes at the gym each week, taking my vitamins daily, morning prayer, reading a good book, making a delicious soup (it is sweater weather 😊), and making sure I get 7–8 hours of sleep each night. The sleep piece took a while to get right, but it’s worth it. I’d also add spending time with the people I love.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about what it means to truly shut it down for a day, because I am learning about the practice of Sabbath rest at it is something we could all benefit from.
“Sabbath-keeping enhanced self-awareness, improved self-care, enriched relationships, developed spirituality, [and] positively affected the rest of a Sabbath-keeper's week” (B., 2019, Aug).
Slowing Down Is Hard—but Worth It
Slowing down can be really hard, I know. But completely burning out? That’s worse.
You might not be into the same things I am—and that’s okay. I encourage you to find what works for you. Life often pushes us outside of our Window of Tolerance, but we don’t have to let anxiety, depression, or stress take the wheel.
Taking control can look like:
A 15-minute walk every day
Playing with your kids
Watching your favorite show guilt-free
Learning a new hobby
Vibing out to some good music
The list goes on. Here are some more ways self-care helps stress and keeps you connected to yourself.
Keep It Simple and Be Intentional
You might already be doing some of these things, and that’s GREAT! And I love that for you. Keep doing them—just with a little more intention. Create space each day to do something nurturing for yourself.
The world feels a bit chaotic right now, and you need you more than ever. Making a daily commitment to yourself brings massive benefits.
If you take nothing else from this, I encourage you to:
Give yourself a bedtime that allows for 7–9 hours of sleep, and
Take a 15–20 minute walk every day.
Then come back and tell us what you notice about yourself—we really want to know!
“Healthy sleep is important for cognitive functioning, mood, mental health, and cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and metabolic health” (Ramar K., 2021).
Some Support on Your Healing Journey
If you’d like more personalized support as you figure out what self-care for mental health looks like for you, we have openings and would love to walk alongside you on your healing journey. Schedule a call with us to chat more or get your questions answered.
Works Cited
B., S. B. (2019 Aug). Celebrating Sabbath as a Holistic Health Practice: The Transformative Power of a Sanctuary in Time. Journal of religion and health, 58(4), 1382–1400.
Eichinger, R.W. (2018). Should we get aboard the brain train? Consulting Psychology Journal:
Practice and Research, 70:1, 89-94.
Ramar K, M. R. (2021). Sleep is essential to health: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine position statement. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine;17(10), 2115–2119.
99 Self-Care Activities You Can Try Right Now: Written by Emily Guarnotta, PsyD | Reviewed by Farzon A. Nahvi, MD-Updated on August 13, 2025
