#psych nursing

​Stop Pressuring Me to Take Care of Myself

I think we’ve finally hit on what annoys me most about the commercialization of self-care: the idea that if we just take enough soothing actions then we won’t be tormented by the horror of being alive. This is a fucked-up expectation to set up for any depressed person, not to mention a way to cause further shame when taking these actions doesn’t work. Depression is an illness. No one would tell a person with cancer that if they just “inhale an upbeat smell” or “do a mini de-clutter” they are on the road to complete healing. So let’s maybe let the depression sufferers, and our doctors, address the depression. And the self-care bloggers can stick to $75 cashmere socks.

The realest.

Happy Holidays? 6 Ways to Get There

Though the next gadget or experience may bring fleeting pleasure, research shows that genuine happiness is about how we feel inside. To really enjoy the holidays, try these simple, research-based practices that will help keep you in a healthy state of mind.

My love for evidence-based decision-making obviously extends into the holidays.  It’s no surprise that priming ourselves for good experiences, savouring happy moments, taking breaks, practicing gratitude, being generous, and connecting with our inner child all help make our holidays happier.