Welcome to Episode 2 of Self-Care Sessions.
This week, we are hosting Stefanie Flores from The Focus on You. 
I stumbled upon The Focus on You via Twitter a couple of years ago and continue to be inspired. Stefanie shares all things self-care, mental health and wellness. Not only is she a force online, she is also a force in person as a therapist in Nevada. Read on to learn more about Stefanie and the Focus on You.
Hi Stefanie, welcome! So glad to have you here on the Self-Care Sessions. So, how did The Focus on You get its start?
I’ve always wanted to be a writer. When my pup suddenly passed away in 2014, I started journaling to help with my grief. I channeled my writing into a blog that would help people learn about the importance of self-care.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I’m glad that you took the time to not only focus on your own self-care needs, but also educate others about it. What started the self-care journey for you?
When I read inspirational posts or messages on Pinterest and Instagram, I knew I could add my voice and sense of humor to these messages. I didn’t see too many licensed professionals sharing messages at that time. It’s heartwarming to see so many people of color lending their knowledge to this niche.
Absolutely! I’m glad to see more of people of color sharing their perspectives on self-care and mental health. This kind of education is sorely needed in the community. So, what is your Mission with The Focus on You?
I want to be a resource for people who need an emotional lift. The messages I share in therapy are not just for people with addictions or mental health struggles. Self-care is vital for everyone. It’s why we go to bed at night. It’s why there are labor laws. Our daily routines have breaks already installed. These breaks are missed opportunities to inventory how our emotional wellness stands. When we ignore our needs and values, everything goes haywire. If people walk out of their house everyday and have already honored what they need, they have a better chance of making it through the day.
Self-Care is vital for everyone ~ Stefanie Flores (Focus on You) (Tweet this!)
YES! I love the points you make, especially that “self-care is vital for everyone.” There are so many people pushing themselves to the breaking point that they have a harder time recovering after falling apart. As you said, if we practice self-care everyday before leaving home, we have a better chance to handle what life throws at us. So, who do you seek to empower with your work?
I seek to empower everyone. For example, on Twitter, I share hotline information for the transgender community and people who have been through natural disasters. I don’t write specifically for women or men. I definitely want to empower the populations that get left behind, like women of color, but, my message is for everyone.
That’s amazing! I think that’s how I connected with you in the first place – seeing your tweets about hotlines. I think people are starting to understand when they need help, but don’t always have quick resources to turn to. I’m so glad you share them. What does self-care and wellness mean to you?
Self-care means honoring our needs and recognizing when we need nourishment. I think people confuse self-care with “downtime.” When people get bored or have a minute to sit down, they scroll online. Is that really nourishing? Self-care can vary from day-to-day because our needs vary as well. I think increased self-care can lead to emotional wellness, but needs to be inventoried regularly so we don’t break down.
I agree about the confusion between self-care and “downtime.” My definition of self-care is anything that increases energy, uplifts the spirit and improves mood. I love that you mention we need to check in with ourselves often so we know how to avoid breaking down. So tell me – what’s a fun fact about you that people wouldn’t know by looking at you?
People would be surprised to know that I HATE mornings. Based on my crazy Instagram Stories you’d I’m bubbly and talkative. On the contrary. I can’t go to work without coffee AND breakfast. I need to sit, eat and sip my coffee. I can’t roll out of bed and rush to work. My morning routine allows me to be in the right head space to be a therapist. Oh, and a little hip hop never hurts, too!
Self-care is anything that increases energy, uplifts the spirit and improves mood @HeiddiZ (Tweet this!)
Haha, I cannot agree with you more about the coffee. I also can’t believe you are NOT a morning person, because your Instagram had me fooled! I’m sure your clients get the best of you because you already give the best to yourself before leaving home. So wonderful! I’ve loved chatting with you here. What can folks expect from you and The Focus on You in 2019?
I’ll be adding a podcast and broadening some of my topics on the blog. I still enjoy micro-blogging through social media and you’d have to pry me away from Twitter. I’ve got a wellness conference I’m looking forward to this summer and hope to pitch some speaking gigs!
That’s so wonderful that you want to add new things to the blog and reach more people. Well, there you have it folks, Stefanie and The Focus on You is here for YOU to help you get your self-care ON. Be sure to follow her on Twitter and Instagram and read her blog to learn more. Thank you so much for joining us!
If you want to learn more about self-care without the guilt, check out my services.
Happy day!
Create, set and keep time for you everyday with my guide
“Steal Your Time Back: 6 Secrets for Busy Working Moms”
Heiddi Zalamar 