9 Spots for Parents to Practice Self Care in Birmingham, AL

Written By Drew Richard, LMFT-A

As parents, we can wear many hats and when trying to balance those roles, we tend to push our emotional and social needs to the side. Self-care is really important for not only taking care of you, but also to be able to meet other responsibilities. Self-care can aid in replenishing energy, increasing focus, elevating moods, and overall having intentional time to reconnect with yourself. Taking me time can feel scary and even bring on feelings of guilt for doing so. This is because self-care can be mistaken with self-indulgence. Engaging in self-care, creates habits that help us stay and feel healthy (provides long term positivity and visible improvement in physical/and or mental health) whereas self-indulgent activities are short term fixes that are typically to avoid the responsibilities (fun at first but tend to be boring and add to stress). So how can you tell if you are in need of some self-care:

  •  Changes to eating and/or sleeping patterns

  • Difficulty concentrating

  • Irritable and/or anger outbursts

  • Withdrawing or isolating self

  • Physical symptoms such as headaches, stomach pains, lightheadedness/dizziness

  • Feeling anxious, guilty, alone, and/or hopeless

Carving out time for your health has benefits for you and your child. Actions that you take toward your self-care models healthy habits for your child and can be rewarding for the household. Self-care activities such as brushing your teeth and making sure to eat a balanced breakfast, are all examples of habits that contribute to practicing and teaching self-care at home. Your self-care habits are going to be unique for you but a good rule of thumb to determine if something contributes to your well-being is to ask yourself is what I’m doing benefiting needs in at least one of these categories: physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual, social, or professional. Addressing one or multiple categories in your self-care time can help you feel your best so that you manage your daily schedule and work through challenging situations.

Finding ways to set aside self-care time at home is great but sometimes, spending a lot of time at home, can be draining and take an emotional toll.  That is why created a list of cool places to check out this month that you can give a try engaging in self-care around Birmingham:

Parks

  • Turkey Creek Nature. Located just 15 miles north of Birmingham, Turkey Creek Nature Preserve protects some of the most stunning beauty in the Southeast. With a newly added parcel of 170 acres, the now 655-acre preserve was established through a partnership between the state's Forever Wild Program and the Freshwater Land Trust and is co-managed by the Southern Environmental Center at Birmingham-Southern College.

    Hours:
    TCNP is open Wednesday-Sunday the following hours: 
    8 a.m.-4 p.m. November-March
    8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. March-November
    Pedestrian only hours: Friday and Saturday, 7 a.m.-9 a.m.

    Find us at:
    3906 Turkey Creek Road Pinson, AL 35126

  • Moss Rock Preserve. Located in Hoover, a suburb of Birmingham, Moss Rock strikes a perfect balance of nature and community. Moss Rock Preserve is a beautiful 349 acre nature preserve abundant with forest systems, large rock outcroppings, waterfalls, wildlife, and six rare species of plants. Outside of the Perserve you will find a cute little area with restaurants to have a snack or drink after your hike.

    Hours:

    Moss Rock is open everyday from sunrise to sunset.

    Find us at:

    617 Preserve Way, Hoover, AL 35226

Both offer different hiking trails that range in difficulty. An interesting fact about both locations is that they are home to rare fish and plants. Nature can be a great place to ground yourself, find peace, and soak up the sun.

Indoor Activities

Don’t know what to do in your self-care time? How about trying something new this month. These locations around the city combine creativity and a little bit of physical activity but in the best way. Axe throwing, splatter rooms, and sports are great ways to release some built-up emotions and create some fun memories.

Festivals

Festivals can be great ways to try new foods, meet local business owners, and have some fun. Whether you go alone or bring your friends along, these are great opportunities to break your routine and spend time with your community.

Adding Self Care to your life with Therapy in Birmingham, AL, or McKinney, TX

At Sharp Wellness , we understand that parenting is hard, and we want to help. We have experienced and knowledgeable therapists located in Birmingham, AL, and McKinney, TX. Our counseling team is dedicated to helping parents so they can thrive. If you are interested in beginning therapy:

  • Book an Appointment or Contact us at contact@sharpwellnessandcounseling.com

  • Learn more about our services

  • Begin the journey of effectively communicating with your partner today!

Other Therapy Services at Sharp Wellness

At Sharp Wellness, our therapists know there may be more causing issues in your relationships than communication. This is why we have locations in Birmingham, AL, and Mckinney, TX. To help you with whatever issues you may be facing. Our therapists also offer a variety of therapy services to support you and your family. We offer trauma therapy, teen and adolescent therapy, individual counseling, marriage counseling, family counseling, LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy, and EDMR Therapy. We also offer Couple's Intensives at our Mckinney, TX location.

Drew Richard, LMFT-A
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