Psychology of Self-Care for Everyone during the Co-Vid 19 Pandemic

Kathryn (Kathy) Dardeck, Ed.D., has been a Massachusetts-based psychologist for over three decades. During this time she has taught in clinical and counseling psychology graduate and undergraduate programs based in Cambridge (Lesley University), Newton (William James College, aka Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology), Greenfield (Greenfield Community College) and Holyoke (Holyoke Community College) Massachusetts,

as well as in Minneapolis (Walden University), Minnesota. Dr. Kathryn (Kathy) Dardeck became a highly trained disaster mental health responder who in addition to being deployed to respond to disasters and crises, taught courses for students, psychologists, and other behavioral health providers and disaster responders on the importance of self-care in mitigating the impact of traumatic and garden variety stress.

Dr. Kathryn (Kathy) Dardeck notes “In our society, we have been trained to think that taking time for self- care is selfish, but this is not necessarily the case. Taking time for self-care during a crisis such as the Co-vid 19 pandemic is actually an ethical imperative, particularly for psychologists, and actually for anyone who interacts with other human beings.” Dr. Dardeck further explains that practicing self-care recharges us, giving us more mental and physical energy to be present in mindful ways for our loved ones and others who need our support. Self-care is different things for different people. It includes but is not limited to practicing meditation, and mindful breathing, stretching and getting aerobic exercise, talking with a trusted friend or family member, having a “spa day”, eating food that nourishes and is good for you, making the time to play a musical instrument, writing one’s feelings and thoughts down, playing with one’s pets, napping, dancing with abandon, walking in nature, and so on. It allows us to slow the frenetic pace that many of us keep, in order to focus in on doing something that brings us calm, joy and peace. This in turn, allows us to be calm and thoughtful in our interactions with others, such as those with whom we live and/or work. During the pandemic restrictions many people found having to maintain a social distance of at least 6 feet from others and wearing a mask indoors as a bit burdensome and unpleasant. Taking some time for our own self-care allows us to relax and have peace, even with these same pandemic situations.

Kathryn (Kathy) Dardeck observed “It’s easier to take good care of others when we are rested, peaceful, and taking good care of ourselves.”