San Francisco is the most densely populated city in California, with a population of over 860,000. It is also one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. This, of course, doesn’t include the almost 70,000 tourists who visit the city every day. If you’re a shy San Franciscan, you might be a little overwhelmed by the people you are surrounded by. You might be looking for ways to take care of yourself as you live a busy, urban professional life. Check out these ways to take care of yourself in San Francisco.
Find a therapy group
Living in a city can have a huge effect on your mental health and can actually impair your ability to handle social stress. For people who are already shy or dealing with previous trauma, urban life can cause added difficulties and make it a challenge to inhabit the city and make friends. One way to help yourself combat your impaired ability to deal with social stress is to join a therapy group.
source: ucsf.edu
Dr Laura Kasper (the link is to my home page, i thought we were building links to the group therapy page?) offers group therapy, which is one of the most effective ways of helping you create healthy and satisfying relationships. Group therapy is a weekly gathering of smart, engaged people who are all passionate about the same thing – becoming more emotionally intelligent, self-aware and capable of having great relationships. In group therapy, you get the opportunity to practice expressing your feelings and asking for what you need, as well as get feedback from ot hers about how they perceive you. Groups are limited to eight people, which means you build meaningful connections with a select group of people and begin to understand how others experience you interpersonally, which is a rare thing. This is first on the list because group therapy really is a great way to begin to care for yourself and become confident in building healthy, nourishing relationships.
Find a yoga studio
Yoga is great for stretching your muscles, but it’s also great for relaxing your mind and gaining confidence and clarity. Even if you’ve never considered it before, think about trying it at least once. San Francisco has excellent yoga studios to choose from, and you should consider each carefully. Different yoga studios have different specialties, so if you’re new to the practice, look for one that focuses on welcoming beginners and teaching the basics.
There are also a few different types of yoga. Bikram yoga involves a 105-degree room and the same postures every time you go. Some Bikram classes are conducted without any instruction at all, which is not what you want to walk into as a new yogi or yogini. Vinyasa yoga classes often vary but incorporate poses and flow from pose to pose. Vinyasa classes are both heated and not heated, and many Vinyasa practices are perfect for yoga newbies, as they involve plenty of instruction. Doing your research before you head out will help you feel confident and ready to relax.
source: wheelhouse-sf.com
Eat healthy (and yummy) food
Having a healthy diet is great for your mental and physical health, and overall, you should be aware of what you are putting into your body. Sometimes, however, eating yummy food is the best way to take care of yourself. Treating yourself to something delicious can actually regulate your hormones and help motivate you to continue eating healthier before and after you treat yourself.
(I am having a hard time getting on board with a topic of healthy eating but it’s recommending cookie dough and focaccia. I think something with kale/healthy would fit better in this article. Or are you also placing links for the cookie dough and bakery?) It’s not hard to find tasty food in San Francisco. Doughp makes delicious cookie dough without eggs, so you don’t have to feel guilty or worried while you dig in. This is a great treat after a long week at work. If you’re interested in something more savory, the focaccia at Liguria Bakery is delicious and served four ways: plain, raisin, onion, and pizza. What better way to treat yourself than with some delicious carbs?
It can be hard to live in a thriving city, but taking time for yourself and your needs will help you feel happier and healthier than ever.