SELF-CARE

Self-Care Isn’t Selfish– It’s Brain Care

When was the last time you paused and checked in with yourself– without guilt or a to-do list attached? If that question made you pause, you’re not alone. 

As a mental health professional, I see how common it is for people to pour from an empty cup. Whether you are supporting others, juggling work and family, or just trying to stay afloat– self-care often ends up at the bottom of the list. But what if self-care wasn’t about luxury or indulgence… but simply about regulation? 

(Here’s what I know to be true– even Jesus rested. He withdrew to quiet places, paused to pray, and cared for His physical body. If He modeled rhythms of rest, solitude, and restoration, how much more do we need those practices in our own lives?) 

---

More Than Bubble Baths

Self-care isn’t just about spa days or canceling plans (although those can be great too). Real self-care includes the little things that support your emotional, physical, and mental health– like setting boundaries, getting enough sleep, asking for help, or simply taking a walk. 

---

Why Walking Matters

Here’s something you might not know: walking is a form of bilateral stimulation, which is a tool used in EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). Bilateral stimulation involves engaging both sides of the brain in a rhythmic, alternating pattern– like what naturally happens when you walk. 

In EMDR, this technique helps people process distressing memories and regulate their nervous system. And while walking isn’t therapy in itself, it can have a calming, organizing effect on the brain. If you’ve gone for a walk and come back feeling mentally clearer, that’s no accident. (The rhythmic left-right movement of walking can offer a similar calming effect. It helps activate both hemispheres of the brain, which supports clarity, emotional processing, and a felt sense of grounding.) 

So when you take a short walk– especially outdoors– you’re not just moving your body. You’re also giving your brain a chance to reset. 

---

A Reframe: Self-Care as Capacity-Building

Instead of viewing self-care as something extra, what if we viewed it as a way to build resilience and capacity?  

When we engage in intentional self-care, we’re not avoiding our responsibilities– we’re creating the internal conditions that allow us to meet them more effectively. A regulated nervous system improves decision making, emotional resilience, interpersonal connection, and cognitive flexibility. 

---

Gentle Nudge

You don’t have to earn rest or justify your need for care. Your body, your mind, and your nervous system are always doing their best to keep you going– and they deserve a little support in return. 

If you try one small act of self-care this week, let it be something that feels kind. Your future self will thank you. 

---

A Personal Note

I share all of this not just as a clinician, but as a human who knows how easy it is to disconnect from your own needs in the name of helping others. I’ve learned that self-care isn’t about stepping away from my purpose– it’s about returning to it with clarity, strength, and dependence on God. 

Rest, regulation, and renewal are all deeply spiritual practices. They remind us that we are human, not machines. They remind us that we are held. And they create space for us to discern, connect, and serve from a place of wholeness– not depletion. 

So if you’re feeling tired, worn out, or stretched thin, maybe this is your invitation to pause– not out of weakness, but out of wisdom. Pick one thing. Something small. Something doable. And know that God meets you in the quiet just as powerfully as in the doing.

Written by:
Emma Kimbro
Certified Social Worker (CSW)