I have never been a “runner”. In fact, I thought I had the wrong body type for running – bad feet, shin splints, big hips, et cetera. I was one of the folks making jokes about running – “Only if someone is chasing me!”
And then the pandemic hit. And my wife bought a treadmill.
Between virtual meetings, I slowly started exploring the treadmill. They had walking classes you could stream, complete with a motivating coach and fun music. (May I recommend the Elton John Walk?)
After a couple of months of doing the walking classes, I moved on to the walk-run classes. And then to the run classes. It was a really slow, unplanned process. But through it, I started noticing the mental health benefits of regular exercise. After I fought through a run – sweating, gasping for air, my whole body hurting – I actually felt great. My mood would be enhanced for the rest of the day. So, I kept at it.
As the poor folks who participate in the MSW supervision groups know, I preach the importance of self-care. Ad nauseum. I feel that we work in a very special field – that of mental health. And in our field, the line between the personal and professional can get blurry. We spend all day listening to trauma stories, and then have to somehow interact with our partners, children, friends, and family after work. If we don’t take care of and protect our own mental health, not only will we be unable to be of any help to our clients, but we will be unable to function effectively within our personal lives.
And through my process with the treadmill, I feel like I have unlocked a self-care hack. Lo and behold, doctors are right – regular exercise is good for the body and mind! I want to encourage everyone reading to find something that you enjoy. It certainly doesn’t have to be running. But dance! Lift weights! Hike! Play pickleball! Do something that gets you moving on a regular basis. Slowly, over time, you too will notice that it is a great way to support your mental health. And you, too, will be able to enjoy a long career in this amazing field.
-Summer Gomez, Penny Lane Centers
