September is Self-Care Awareness Month, and it reminds us that healing often starts with the little things we do to take care of ourselves. At Social Model Recovery Systems (SMRS), we see it every day: a simple pause, a moment of rest, even just remembering to breathe can make all the difference.
Self-care isn’t about getting it perfect. It’s about noticing what you need right now and permitting yourself to have it. Maybe that’s opening up in a group, taking a walk outside, playing with your kids, or just saying “not today” when you’re feeling stretched too thinly. Recovery is hard work, and like any kind of hard work, it takes energy, rest, and a lot of kindness toward yourself.
That’s why at SMRS, self-care isn’t just something we talk about; it’s something we practice together. Each department sets aside time for a self-care day, and those days are special. Sometimes it’s whale watching, sometimes it’s a spa day, a round of golf, a trip to Catalina Island, or even just catching a movie. Whatever the activity, the goal is the same: to pause, to laugh together, and to remember that taking care of ourselves makes us stronger as a team. These moments aren’t just fun, they’re a chance to breathe, reconnect, and remind ourselves that wellness feels better when it’s shared.
Here’s the truth: self-care doesn’t have to be big or fancy. Sometimes it’s as small as drinking a glass of iced cold water, taking a few deep breaths, or giving yourself a break from your phone. Little moments like these may not seem like much, but they’re acts of kindness toward yourself, and when you keep practicing them, they add up. Over time, those small choices create real space for healing and growth.
This month, we invite you to ask yourself one simple question: What’s one small thing I can do today to take care of myself?
At SMRS, we believe that when we take care of ourselves, we’re not just helping ourselves, we’re creating more hope, more love, and more strength to share with the people around us.
