Ready to recharge your life and prioritize your well-being? This episode of Words of Wellness is a must-listen as we provide you with actionable steps toward better self-care and overall mental health. Join us as we sit down with Desiree Argentina, a seasoned mental health therapist and holistic wellness coach, to discuss the mounting pressures we face in today's fast-paced world. From the struggles of increased anxiety, depression, and burnout among caregivers and multi-job jugglers, to the long-term detrimental effects of neglecting our wellness, Desiree's insights are both timely and transformative.
Discover how societal shifts, particularly the enforced slowdown, have reshaped our routines and mental well-being. We delve into the benefits of intentional self-care, outdoor activities, and the much-needed sunlight that many of us have missed out on. Our conversation also explores the isolating effects of reduced in-person interactions and the surge of loneliness, offering valuable tips to combat these modern-day stressors. To top it off, we highlight Desiree's inspiring journey into social work, showcasing the field's flexibility and the rewarding experience of discovering one's true calling. This episode is packed with wisdom to help you lead a life full of energy, happiness, and joy.
High quality, clean nutrition and beauty products: https://shellyjefferis.isagenix
Thank you for listening to the Words of Wellness podcast with Shelly Jefferis. I am honored and so grateful to have you here and it would mean the world to me if you could take a minute to follow, leave a 5-star review and share the podcast with anyone you love and anyone you feel could benefit from the message.
Thank you and God Bless! And remember to do something for yourself, for your wellness on this day!
Ready to recharge your life and prioritize your well-being? This episode of Words of Wellness is a must-listen as we provide you with actionable steps toward better self-care and overall mental health. Join us as we sit down with Desiree Argentina, a seasoned mental health therapist and holistic wellness coach, to discuss the mounting pressures we face in today's fast-paced world. From the struggles of increased anxiety, depression, and burnout among caregivers and multi-job jugglers, to the long-term detrimental effects of neglecting our wellness, Desiree's insights are both timely and transformative.
Discover how societal shifts, particularly the enforced slowdown, have reshaped our routines and mental well-being. We delve into the benefits of intentional self-care, outdoor activities, and the much-needed sunlight that many of us have missed out on. Our conversation also explores the isolating effects of reduced in-person interactions and the surge of loneliness, offering valuable tips to combat these modern-day stressors. To top it off, we highlight Desiree's inspiring journey into social work, showcasing the field's flexibility and the rewarding experience of discovering one's true calling. This episode is packed with wisdom to help you lead a life full of energy, happiness, and joy.
High quality, clean nutrition and beauty products: https://shellyjefferis.isagenix
Thank you for listening to the Words of Wellness podcast with Shelly Jefferis. I am honored and so grateful to have you here and it would mean the world to me if you could take a minute to follow, leave a 5-star review and share the podcast with anyone you love and anyone you feel could benefit from the message.
Thank you and God Bless! And remember to do something for yourself, for your wellness on this day!
In Health, Shelly Jefferis
Speaker 1:
It's so important to take time for yourself. We get caught in all of this day to day, our responsibilities, our obligations. Especially if you're a caretaker, a parent, it gets really tough. And then you go through your whole day, you're going through the motions and at the end of the day it's like what did I do for myself? Did I fulfill any of my wants, my needs, my desires?
Speaker 2:
Do you get confused by all of the information that bombard us every day on ways to improve our overall health and our overall wellness? Do you often feel stuck, unmotivated or struggle to reach your wellness goals? Do you have questions as to what exercises you should be doing, what foods you should or should not be eating, how to improve your overall emotional and mental well-being? Hello everyone, I am so excited to welcome you to Words of Wellness. My name is Shelly Jeffries and I will be your host. My goal is to answer these questions and so much more to share tips, education and inspiration around all of the components of wellness through solo and guest episodes.
Speaker 2:
With 35 plus years as a health and wellness professional, a retired college professor, a speaker and a multi-passionate entrepreneur, I certainly have lots to share. However, my biggest goal and inspiration in doing this podcast is to share the wellness stories of others with you, to bring in guests who can share their journey so that we can all learn together while making an impact on the health, the wellness and lives of all of you, our listeners. The ultimate hope is that you leave today with even just one nugget that can enhance the quality of your life, and that you will. We all will, now and into the future, live our best quality of lives, full of energy, happiness and joy. Now let's dive into our message for today. Hello everyone, and welcome back to Words of Wellness. I am your host, shelly, and I'm excited to introduce our guest today. She is a mental health therapist and a holistic wellness coach, which is right up my alley for sure. Welcome, desiree.
Speaker 1:
Hello, thank you so much for having me. I'm so excited for our conversation.
Speaker 2:
I am so excited too. I know we're going to have a lot to discuss and I really am fascinated by what got you started into the field and what is your work that you're doing, especially in the mental wellness area, because that is such a critical need. I feel like this day and age, right oh absolutely.
Speaker 1:
Yes, I feel like I don't know about you, but I just feel like a lot of people are struggling right now for a ton of different various factors, but a lot of people every everyone's kind of going through it right now and yeah, it's been, it's been tough for a lot of people. So I think a lot of that taking care of ourselves really goes on the back burner.
Speaker 2:
Right, right, and that's something that I stress and encourage others. That's a really big point I try to make is to encourage people to put their health, their wellness, as a priority because, like you're saying, a lot of people don't and that just over time, it might not be in a few days or a few weeks, but over time that definitely will catch up to us, right? I mean, that'll take its toll if we're not putting our health and our wellness first.
Speaker 1:
Oh, absolutely. On top of just increased anxiety, increased depression, I mean, we run into that kind of burnout, which is a big issue, which typically people think of burnout when it comes to your job or occupation. But I think burnout goes beyond that. I think a lot of caregivers experience burnout and a lot of people now are working multiple jobs and come home to their kids, their families, and it's it all just seems like a little too much. So I think a lot of people are experiencing burnout as well.
Speaker 2:
It really, it's so true. It's so true what you're saying, because we have so many demands placed upon us for so many different reasons and everyone has gotten so caught up in the the fast paced life, even though, even though we had a break from it right, where we are all forced to be inside, and, in some ways, even though a lot of negativity has come out of that and I think a lot of these issues that people are having with their health and their mental wellness has come out of that, and I think a lot of these issues that people are having with their health and their mental wellness has come out of that However, there were some blessings to be had. I believe in the fact that it really slowed a lot of people down and forced us to slow down and really reevaluate a lot of things. But you're probably finding, with what you do and I think I see it too with what, what I do so many people trying to get it's taking a long time to get back into the routine right.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, definitely. And and I was one of those people I'm normally a go go, go go type of person and have my hands in a lot of different things and projects, and I was working full time while at the same time trying to build my private practice and coaching business and so, yeah, it really forced me to slow down and I found that it was easier and I was being more intentional about taking care of myself. I was focusing on my morning routine, my bedtime routine, getting enough sleep, eating well, I was working out every day, which I almost never work out because it's just so much effort and I don't enjoy it, I don't like it. But because I had that much time to put back into myself. And, again, it was a little easier for me because I don't have kids or anything and I think that's a whole other conversation when people do have kiddos to take care of but I was really able to focus on myself and be intentional and I was getting outside more.
Speaker 1:
I was able to get outside every day because something that is really wild to think about is that we are, we're just not built, we're not meant to be inside all day and a lot of us, our only time outside is from going to our job and office building, to the car, and that's our time outside. And we are just not meant to be inside all day, every day, and not get sun, not get fresh air, not be in nature. And I work in a middle school and high school and in the two different buildings I'm in I'm in rooms with no windows so I don't even see outside until I leave work at the end of the day.
Speaker 2:
Wow, yeah, that's such an important point to get outside and have that fresh air, get a little sunshine, and I can't imagine being in a room in a building in your work environment where you don't have access to that, you don't have windows. I mean that must be a little challenging. And the other part of this that I'm just thinking as you're talking this out as far as you know, we're not meant to be indoors, we're not meant to not be outside, we're also not meant to be so isolated, right, and not be around others. So it brings up such that important point and need for community, whatever that looks like. And I kind of think and you can add to this that led to a lot of the mental challenges I think we're having is people were not operating in the way we're meant to being isolated, being indoors, not socializing, not being around others. I mean that takes its toll, don't you think?
Speaker 1:
Oh, absolutely, and there's so much more to it as well. As you know, now we live in a society that we're really set up to be sedentary all day. We're not meant to be sitting all day. Our bodies are not built for that. It's not good for us. There's a phrase that says sitting is the new smoking.
Speaker 1:
It's so bad for us to sit all day, and a lot of our interactions are online now, which is great, right, we get to connect like I'm connecting with you, you're in another state, we're having a great conversation. That's amazing, but it doesn't. I don't know that it substitutes that in-person connection that a lot of people are lacking, and I think a lot of people, because we have this epidemic of loneliness, right, it's harder now than ever to make friends and to have those connections, and people, more so now than ever to make friends and to have those connections, and people, more so now than ever, are moving away from their communities, are moving away from their families. I mean, my families are in New York and Florida and I live in Colorado, right, so I'm across the country from my family and we're moving away from our communities and we're turning to online, we're turning to the internet to build those communities and I think in some capacity. It's great because again we get to connect with people from all over the world, different walks of life, but we really have moved away from our home, our community that you know, our tribe that we're meant to be with and grow up with and grow up with. So I think that it's really unprecedented what we're dealing with now and something I talk about as well, as when you open up your phone you are just receiving information. It's information overload from all over the world.
Speaker 1:
Right Back before the internet and before smartphones, we would hear about these major world events if we even heard about them at all, but we would hear about them in the newspaper way past that they even happened right Past date of like a week later or something, or sometimes on the news.
Speaker 1:
But now everything is in real time, right, there were just all these hurricanes and tornadoes swept the Midwest and I was seeing in real time, right, there were just all these hurricanes and tornadoes swept the Midwest and I was seeing in real time tornadoes destroying people's homes and there's nowhere for that empathy to go and it causes a lot of hopelessness and helplessness and all these wars and genocide, and we're seeing it all in real time, and our hearts can't handle that right. I don't know that. We're meant to shoulder the weight of the world and we were just never built for that. So we're dealing in really unprecedented times, that we are dealing with things that our previous generations have never had to consider or deal with before. This is all brand new territory, and I think a lot of information is going to come out about how all of this is impacting our mental health in a really detrimental way.
Speaker 2:
Wow, that's. You make such an excellent point, really, really so true. I mean, as I'm listening to you saying, how are you know? We're not meant to take all of that on? And it's so true. And even even for people like I mean ourselves, when we know better, it still impacts us. And, like you're saying, it's all in real time. And when you're bombarded with all of the news, or if there's you know, like you're saying, what's going on in the Midwest right now, it's a lot to take on for sure, especially for our young people, right. They don't always have the tools to be able to kind of process what's going on and process those emotions. What is it, desiree, that you do in the mental wellness space? I mean, you're doing coaching, I know, right.
Speaker 1:
Yeah. So I really like to focus on a holistic lens. So I talk about the eight foundational elements of self-care and wellness that I've identified and I can go over them quickly. So physical wellness, our environmental or space wellness, so our homes, occupational wellness, financial wellness, social wellness, spiritual wellness and our personal wellness, and that could be development, self-reflection, self-discovery, things like that.
Speaker 1:
So when I work with my coaching clients, I really like to focus on wellness in this kind of framework and do kind of an assessment of where my client is at, where they feel like they're lacking, where their strengths are, what they would like to improve.
Speaker 1:
And in these eight different categories there are subcategories that we go over as well. So, for example, physical wellness, that would be, you know, nutrition, that would be movement, different are sleeping habits, different things like that. So each of those categories have subcategories as well that I really like to identify, because I feel like if we're, obviously it would be an improvement and we work very slowly. We start with the area of the most need, right, so we start there, but if we're only focusing on one area of our life, there's still other areas that could use improvement. But I really like to take it slow and focus on one thing at a time because we don't want to overwhelm. We can't go from zero to 100. But I really like to do these assessments to see where people are at and identify where we can have actionable steps to improve and grow.
Speaker 2:
That's so wonderful and I love this because this is exactly in alignment with one why I started my podcast to be able to offer all the different components of wellness and share about them. And then the other part is through the years I taught college and I taught health and I would say exactly like you're saying. I mean, there are, there are different elements of health and wellness and we would talk about them and I would say you're going to have strengths in some of them. Figure out where you're strong, your strengths are, and then start to kind of maybe work on those other components and take little steps. Like you're saying, small steps add up over time. We try and change everything. It's just too overwhelming and it's not realistic. So I love that. So you, you do one-on-one and group or one or the other.
Speaker 1:
Um, I do one-on-one mostly and I do offer a a group um. It's a drop-in, so people can comment anytime that they would like Um and you can um sign up for a certain amount of sessions, um, so I'm still working on getting that off the ground right now. But, yes, I would definitely like to incorporate more groups because, again, that kind of community really fosters growth and and improvement and just that peer support and really fosters growth and improvement, and just that peer support and learning from others is so valuable.
Speaker 2:
I agree, I agree 100% and I'm with you on that. I have a mom's program that I've been working on growing and I'm open to doing, and have done, one-on-one. But I'm like you're saying, I really want to encourage more of the community aspect, especially nowadays, and I feel like there's so much value in that and it's the not just the camaraderie and the friendships, but it's learning and growing from each other. So, yeah, I I totally agree. It's so valuable, valuable. What got you into this Desiree?
Speaker 1:
oh yeah. So you know it's so interesting. From a young age I was always really interested in kind of the helping fields, the helping profession. I was always volunteering and I always loved animals and wanted to volunteer with animals, but I didn't know that that could be a career. I just didn't know anybody that was kind of doing what I wanted to do. I was volunteering at nursing homes and with kids and I always worked in summer camps or as a babysitter or at the Y I worked as well, but I just didn't know what I wanted to do. I had no words for it or no career path for it.
Speaker 1:
So I was in high school, looking to go to college, and I just I knew I wanted to go to college but I didn't know, again, what I wanted to do. So I was just flipping through. I had a huge binder full of all these majors, of all these different colleges, so I was literally just flipping through majors and everyone was telling me to go into nursing and I was like that's not, that doesn't really resonate with me, that's not really what I'm looking for. And so I found this major called human development and it was talking about childhood development, the psychology of women, women's bodies, emotional expression through writing. And I was just like, oh my gosh, this sounds so fascinating to me. So I went. So I went for that major and my professor I was getting ready to graduate and still I was like, what am I going to do with this? Right, I just have a, I have a bachelor's. And my professor said to me you should really look at volunteering at this organization, this nonprofit. My husband is the director, I'll get you in touch with him. So I started volunteering there in their substance use treatment. I was running the well, I was volunteering for the syringe exchange and then they ended up hiring me full-time and I ran that program for I think two and a half years about.
Speaker 1:
And there I started meeting social workers and different case managers and so I learned about the field of social work and I was like, wow, this sounds really interesting. And I just learned about it that you could be a therapist. And I was like I would love to be a therapist. I always kind of wanted to do that but didn't really know how or how to get there.
Speaker 1:
And so really volunteering and working at this nonprofit really led me on my path and I ended up getting my master's in social work and going forward, and I just fell in love with it and it just felt like it really clicked, Like that's exactly what I was looking for as a kid and a teen in middle school and high school. I just couldn't find the words. I just didn't know about it, and when I found out it was just like it just felt so right. So I really kind of fell into it, Like I was trying to get there, but I didn't know where I was trying to get to. So I just kind of fell into place and it just felt right.
Speaker 2:
That's wonderful, that's a great story, and how wonderful to have the opportunity to volunteer and then to know this is what I want to do. It just all came together. You know, I love that because I feel like a lot of our teenagers and our high schoolers put so much pressure on themselves to know what they want to do and I mean, my goodness, when you're 16, 17, 18, you know that's really not realistic. However, that's what we tell them. Right, You're going to go to college and what's your? What are you going to major in? I don't know Like I. I'm very. I think I'm part of maybe like two 3% of the population.
Speaker 2:
I got my degree and I've been working in it ever since, and my degree was in kinesiology and so, but that's so rare. But I knew early on it's what I wanted to get involved with. But I but I do know that's such a such a rare situation and we've always told our kids like it's okay, if you change what you're doing, right, you might be interested in do some kind of a job for a few years and maybe it leads you to something different. So I think it's just being able to know it's okay to make a change, but then it's also that wonderful feeling, like you experienced, to have that alignment in something and know that, okay, this is it, this is what I want to do.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, exactly, and I love the social work field because, again, like I said before, I'm a very like go go, go type of person. I love new experiences, I love traveling, I really love just learning a lot and I'm a very like go go, go type of person. I love new experiences, I love traveling, I really love just learning a lot and I love a lot of different fields. I have my hands in a lot of different things and so social work has been able to give me that, because after I graduated, I mean I interned at my college counseling center, which I loved. I interned at an afterschool drop-in center for LGBTQ youth, which I loved, and then I got a job at a nonprofit in the counseling center with kids.
Speaker 1:
So I was working with children, which I loved, and then we ended up moving and I got a job in a middle school and high school, which I'm still at, but this is my last year I only have two weeks left and I love that. But now we're moving again and I opened my private practice a year ago. So I am doing that and I am doing the coaching, but I still do want to work in the field and have a part-time or full-time job as well, but I don't know where that's going to take me. So it's really interesting that this field could kind of take you in all various paths, and I really like that. I love that that you can work in with all different populations and in all different areas. So I really, I really love the field.
Speaker 2:
That's wonderful. And all different age groups because you can have your practice and you can have your coaching program and maybe I'm assuming work with maybe more of the adult population, yet have your hands in working with the younger population in the school. So having an impact with with all of the different age groups is really a wonderful thing.
Speaker 1:
I was going to say that's exactly right. I work with kids in the schools and then my practice and coaching is with adults, so I get the best of both worlds.
Speaker 2:
You get the best of both. Yeah, so I'm sure your schedule is pretty full, and I mean I will put all of your contact information in the show notes, for sure. But how can people reach out to you, desiree, if they want to know more or maybe inquire about your program?
Speaker 1:
Yeah, absolutely. The best way to find me is probably you can DM me on Instagram. I'm at the wellness project with Des and I do have a free Facebook group. It's a wellness group, so that's also the wellness project with Des, and I'm in there every day with mental health and wellness content. And I do have a podcast as well Again, the wellness project with Des so you can find me anywhere online. If you just type in my name or type in the wellness project, you will find me, and feel free to just DM me.
Speaker 2:
That's wonderful and I love how you're you've had, you're consistent through all. I like that. You know I sometimes I have a couple of different names for like my, my groups and then my podcast, but it's all centered around wellness. But I did an interview recently with a good friend of mine and he was like everything is just his name. You know, just keep it simple, keep it simple and then people can find you. You know, I just want to be conscientious of your time and our listeners time. Any other tips or advice you want to leave with our listeners today?
Speaker 1:
Yes, definitely, I would say. The number one thing is that it's so important to take time for yourself. We get caught in all of this day to day, our responsibilities, our obligations. Especially if you're a caretaker, a parent, it gets really tough. And then you go through your whole day, you're going through the motions and at the end of the day it's like what did I do for myself? Did I fulfill any of my wants, my needs, my desires? Take at least five minutes, set an alarm if you can make it kind of a ritual, wake up 10 minutes earlier just to have those 10 minutes to yourself, really be intentional about the time that you're focusing on yourself. And that could look like again going outside, walking outside. It can look like journaling, coloring, painting, whatever really lights you up. Take some time to nurture yourself and foster that and to fulfill some of your needs, because it can be days, weeks, months and you turn around and realize what have I done for myself and that's so, so important for your mental health and your wellbeing.
Speaker 2:
Oh, it's so true, and that's a wonderful way to end and it doesn't have to be a lot of time. I share the same same encouragement five minutes outside, take some deep breaths in, and every little bit helps, and so you were just spot on with that. So thank you for sharing that so much and thank you for being here today. I so appreciate you and your time and this has been a great conversation. I've really enjoyed talking with you and for all of our listeners. Feel free to reach out to Desiree. I will put her information and it will all be in the show notes and take her advice to heart. And it's like I always say do something for you on this day and each day, something for your own personal wellness, and make it a great day everyone, and until next time, have a blessed week and I will see you next time.
Speaker 2:
Thank you so much for tuning into today's episode. I hope you gained value and enjoyed our time together as much as I did, and if you know someone who could benefit from today's episode, I would love and appreciate it if you could share with a friend or rate and review Words of Wellness so that more can hear this message. I love and appreciate you all. Thank you for listening and if you have any questions or topics you would like me to share in future episodes, please don't hesitate to reach out to me through my contact information that is shared in the show notes below. Again, thank you for tuning in to Words of Wellness. My name is Shelly Jeffries and I encourage you to do something for you, for your wellness on this day. Until next time, I hope you all have a healthy, happy and blessed week. You.
