5 Ways To Recharge and Recover as an Empath or Highly Sensitive Person
Approximately 15-20% of the population (about 1 in 5 people) have the personality traits of an Empath/Highly Sensitive Person (HSP). Empaths and HSPs feel everything on a much deeper level than others. Because of their sensitive nature, it can be very overwhelming and exhausting mentally and emotionally for these types of people to be around others or in social settings. Having a self-care strategy for when you feel emotionally overloaded as an empath or HSP is extremely important for your mental health and recovery. These 5 tips below are some great ways to recharge and refresh from stressful environments and situations.
Make More Alone Time
It seems simple enough, but it’s truly critical to empaths and HSPs. Carve out time every single day to be by yourself to decompress and rebalance your emotions. What you choose to do during this time is totally up to you! Do whatever makes you feel comfortable and fills your cup. This may be reading a book, taking a walk, or even taking a nap.
2. Try Cocooning
Yes, cocooning is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. It’s the act of enclosing yourself in some sort of protective layer to give yourself a safe place to recharge and regenerate. This can be especially beneficial for empaths and HSPs after social events or draining situations.
Wrap yourself in a blanket or hoodie of your choice to create a physical barrier between your body and the outside world. This is helpful to release and shield yourself from other energies in your body.
3. Spend time grounding and in nature
“Grounding” is a way to get centered and present within your own body, to bring yourself and your state of awareness to the present moment. There are many different ways to ground yourself.
You can simply close your eyes, focus on your breathing, and feel the sensations of your body. You can take off your shoes and go barefoot to feel the earth beneath you. You can even improve this experience by combining this technique with nature. Go outside and take a nature walk, lay down or walk barefoot on the grass or dirt, and bring your attention and awareness to your senses while you are outside.
4. Practice mindfulness and meditation
Whether it’s meditating on your own, following a guided meditation, or simply practicing mindfulness more throughout your day, the benefits of this technique are endless, especially for empaths and highly sensitive people!
You can spend time doing longer meditations that focus on bringing you back to center. But, you can also simply do 5 minute meditations to focus on your breath before starting your day to reduce internal stress. No need to overcomplicate it.
5. Journal to release
Journaling at the beginning or the end of the day is one of the best ways for empaths, HSPs, or really anyone to decompress and let go of stress. Writing down anything and everything on your mind is a great way to reflect on and process your thoughts and emotions.
Think of journaling as a way of taking the emotions you no longer want with you and tossing them away. Once everything is written down, try to imagine the paper as a separate entity that is housing those thoughts and emotions you want to let go of. You’re allowed to decide what you carry with you and what you let go.
Empaths and highly sensitive people often not only have a hard time with their own emotions, but they also often internalize other peoples’ emotions as if they are their own. Honoring your needs is an act of self-love and respect. Taking the time to learn how and when to take care of yourself and your mental health is an important part of life as an empath. Find what self-care techniques work best for you and structure them as part of your every day routine.
