Taking care of your mental health has never been more important. Below are 10 tips to help.
Taking care of your mental health has never been more important than it is today.
Recently, we have seen celebrities and athletes talk about their struggles with mental health. Some have even taken breaks to focus on self-care.
Below are 10 tips to help you take better care of your mental health.
1. Practice Self Care Habits
Self-care is not about face masks and bubble baths, though these are great self-care tools. Even if you care for others, it is important to take care of yourself too. You should always feel clean, confident, and well-groomed, even if you are feeling down. Sometimes a haircut or a clean shave can help a person feel better mentally after going through difficult times. Manicures, pedicures, facials, and massages are other good examples of self-care that can help to improve mental health.
2. Engage in Your Favorite Hobbies
Taking care of your mental health does not have to be hard work. Sometimes, it can even be fun. If you and struggling with your mental health, you might want to break away from your routine a little bit. If work, childcare, and other obligations are making you feel depressed or anxious, it is important to set aside some time for yourself. Do something that you enjoy. If you like to play a sport or play an instrument, you might want to set aside some designated time each week to practice that hobby.
3. Get Enough Sleep
Depriving yourself of sleep is not a good idea if you are struggling with your mental health. Even if you are feeling fine, you should still make sure that you are getting enough sleep each night. Generally, you should try to get at least 6 to 8 hours of high-quality sleep in a comfortable, clean, and darkroom each night. Make sure that you have no distractions like lights or television when you are trying to fall asleep at night.
4. Reach Out to Others
You cannot isolate yourself when dealing with mental health struggles. Reaching out to friends, family members, or coworkers to talk about your mental health can be extremely helpful if you are struggling. Even if you do not choose to specifically talk about your mental health, it can still be helpful to talk to a friend when you are struggling. A good support system can help you feel more confident and capable, even during difficult times. Being a good friend to the people in your support system can also be rewarding and give you a sense of purpose.
5. Spend Time Outdoors
If you feel depressed after spending too much time indoors, you might want to try spending more time in nature. You do not have to take an extended camping trip to get more in touch with the natural world around you. Consider visiting a national park, hiking trail, or nature preserve near your home. Even just spending time in your own backyard can ease your mind and help you to connect more with nature.
6. Unplug from Electronics and Social Media
Social media can be stressful and competitive. In general, most people spend way too much time staring at their phones, tablets, computers, and other electronic devices. Designating at least an hour before bed where you do not use your phone can be helpful if you are working on taking care of your mental health. It is important to remember that you do not have to hold yourself to the standards that you see in edited photos and scripted videos.
7. Use Mental Health Resources
If participating in rewarding activities and practicing more self-care doesn’t work, you might need the help of a professional. Talking to a counselor can be extremely helpful. Behavioral therapy and medication are both tools that can help people with their mental health. Enlightened Recovery has programs designed for individuals concerned about their mental health.
8. Meditate
Any quiet time that you take away from the distractions of everyday life can count as meditation. You can also try meditation groups or taped guided meditation routines for a little bit more guidance in your practice. If meditating seems intimidating to you at first, you can start by just meditating for one to two minutes each day. Some people like to meditate first thing in the morning and others prefer to meditate at night. You can even meditate during a break away from work. Make sure that you are in a comfortable and peaceful setting to meditate and always focus on taking nice, deep breaths while meditating.
9. Practice Positive Self Talk
Positive self-talk can be verbal, written, or mental. Some people like to start their day by speaking affirmations out loud in the mirror. People use journals to keep track of accomplishments and positive traits. When you cannot talk to yourself or journal, you can still practice self-talk by repeating positive sayings to yourself.
10. Be Kind to Others
When you are kind to others, it can be rewarding. If you struggle with feelings of uselessness or sadness, you might want to try helping others. You might want to perform a random act of kindness, give a gift to a friend, or reach out to do some volunteer work. Being kind to others is the perfect way to form more friendships and help build up your support network at the same time.
Struggling with addiction in addition to your mental health issues? Enlightened Recovery is here to help. Contact Enlightened Recovery today if you are ready for a new beginning.
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