On The Line With... Liz Beecroft

It’s not everyday that sneakers and psychotherapy intertwine, but Elizabeth Beecroft (@lizbcroft) has found a way to blend the two together. Not only does Elizabeth show off her immaculate collection of sneakers and streetwear on her Instagram account, but she also endorses positivity and mental health initiatives to her over 17.5K followers. She’s the founder of Mentl.Sesh, a platform used to change the stigma and often misunderstood realities of mental health. And through her collaborations with Nike and The Hundreds, she continues to advocate for psychotherapy within every project. We got in touch with Elizabeth to learn more about how she handles staying at home and adjusting to the new normal.

Describe what you do for a living and how you are adjusting to social distancing?

I’m a Licensed Social Worker and work as a Psychotherapist for a Foster Care Agency in Brooklyn. Outside of my full time career, I use my social media platforms to advocate for mental health primarily within the streetwear, sneaker, and sports communities since those are personal interests of mine and I relate the most to them. Social distancing definitely took some getting used to.  As a therapist, I had to adjust to meeting with my clients virtually rather than having in-person sessions. I also recently moved right before quarantine began, so getting adjusted in a new home + acclimating with the change in my workflow was quite the balance.

How do you typically start your day? What daily rituals are you practicing?

I typically wake up around 6 AM each day (trying to maintain as much normalcy as possible) to have coffee and update myself on the news/current events.  I’ll enjoy a quick breakfast and then make a point to work out, even if it’s only for 30 minutes.  Exercise has definitely been one of my daily rituals to boost my energy levels in the morning and to help me stay motivated throughout the day.  Following the workout I shower, get dressed and then log on remotely to work / have my sessions with my clients. After work I’ve been trying to spend time practicing self care – whether that be through meditation, journaling, or just watching a tv show that I enjoy; it’s important for me to take that time for myself and my mental health.

How are you staying productive while at home? Any useful tips?

I’ve learned through a lot of trial and error what works for me and what doesn’t work.  One thing that really helps me is maintaining my regular schedule during the week, which consists of waking up at the same time, working out, having my morning coffee, writing down a to-do list for work, limiting my use of social media, and putting on a playlist that boosts my mood.  My to-do list is really the game changer for me.  I often find I have so many thoughts going through my mind each day, and it’s easy to forget some tasks, so writing them down helps organize my thoughts as well as allows me to feel accomplished when I cross something off that list.  I think it’s important to remember that we’re all unique individuals with unique experiences in life – so with that being said what might work for me, may not be the best for someone else, which is totally normal and ok.  It takes time to find what routines work for you in order to stay productive as well as just being able to listen to your body.  Sometimes my body tells me I need to sleep or binge Netflix and it’s equally important to listen to it in order to not burn yourself out.

What is keeping you grounded/balanced at the moment?

Music and the Calm app – Specifically Lebron’s mental fitness series – have been helping me stay grounded.  I’ve put together some playlists for specific moods that I resort to when I’m feeling a little off balance and they help me take my mind off any stressors that day.   I’ve also been listening to Lebon’s series on the Calm app to practice mindfulness.  It’s something very relatable for me as I played basketball my whole life – so it makes the practice of meditation enjoyable. Another thing that has really helped is setting boundaries on social media usage.  There has been a lot of information being presented online, which actually triggers my anxiety so limiting what I’m consuming has been very helpful in keeping my mind well-grounded.

During this time of social distancing, people are leaning on things such as streaming services, puzzles, painting, at-home workouts, to name a few, what activities are you using to take your mind off of things?

Most definitely Disney + I’ve been watching documentaries and trying to take some time to learn new things about something I enjoy.  It’s super nostalgic for me, so it brings a lot of happy memories back whenever Disney is involved.  At home workouts are also something I’ve been learning into now that I’m not able to get out and play basketball as often.

How have you stayed connected to friends and family during this time?

Mostly through facetimes and phone calls.  I think being able to hear someone’s voice or see them on the screen has been a huge help in staying connected rather than sending texts.  It’s more personal and I think has allowed me to grow closer with some people, be more vulnerable, and also just really align myself with my core values in life.  Prior to quarantine I was so consumed with my busy schedule I didn’t take the time to stay connected with the important people in my life, but this has definitely helped me see what’s more important to me.

What advice would you give to someone who’s struggling in isolation right now?

I would say reach out to your people, the ones who you can always count on for support.  It’s really important that we have that sense of support or connection right now despite having to be a little more creative in the ways we receive it.  It’s also okay to admit that you’re struggling, because most of us are, and it’s normal, it’s okay to have those feels because this is a new experience for many of us and something that’s not easy to adjust to. If you’re really struggling to the point where it’s seriously affecting your mental health, consider reaching out to the CRISIS text line.  You don’t necessarily have to be in a crisis state to use those services. They have trained individuals who are able to support you even if you’re feeling stressed out or lonely.  Another piece of advice I would give would be to really take the time for self care.  That’s something that is super important, especially creating some type of mental wellness arsenal that you have at the ready to help you feel relaxed.  Lastly, I’d recommend reaching out to a therapist if you have the capabilities.  There’s no shame in therapy.

What accomplishment or new project are you most proud of while social distancing? 

I recently collaborated with The Hundreds to release the “Adam Feelings” t-shirt and poster for Mental Health Awareness Month in May.  100% of profits were donated to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and everything sold out in under 20 minutes, so that is definitely something I’m proud to be a part of.

I also launched my new platform called “MENTL” which is a community driven space working to change the way we think and feel about mental health by meeting people where they are at and providing insight into ways they can manage their overall mental wellbeing.

What are you most looking forward to once this is over?

Seeing my family, friends, and hopefully leaving this as a better version of myself.  Oh – and going to The Cheesecake Factory to eat.

Elizabeth Beecroft

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