7 Ways to Take Care of Your Mental Health
June 16, 2017Bad days happen to everyone, but when bad-every-once-in-a-while becomes bad-all-the-time, it's time to stop and take care of your mental health.
We all have good or bad days. We may feel sad, worried, anxious, and scared at times. Our moods, thoughts, and how we feel will change from day to day. I am sure everyone has experienced at least one of the following symptoms at some point in life.
- Nervousness
- Procrastination
- Anger
- Anxiety
- Withdrawal
- Negative attitude
- Low self-esteem
- Panic attacks
- Loneliness
- Stress
- Overwhelm
Stress is a huge contributor to mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. These feelings can become a problem when they get in the way of our daily lives. If we reach a point where we find ourselves incapable to cope, then over a long period of time it can affect the way we think, feel, and ultimately the way we behave.
It is important to manage your mental wellbeing whether you have mental diagnoses or not. We have all experienced times when we have felt stressed, upset, or found it challenging to manage daily life. When we have more on our plate than we can handle, it is important to be aware of these times and take steps to manage our feelings and emotions in a healthy manner.
When you are feeling overloaded and overwhelmed with responsibilities, it is important to find balance in your life. You deserve to feel good. Here are some ways to help you through the tough times and help you cope with whatever comes your way.
Meditation & Mindfulness
If you suffer from too many thoughts running through your head, take some time to do some deep breathing. Meditation and mindfulness are great ways to clear thoughts, put them aside, and try to relax. They can help you become more aware of your thoughts so you are better able to manage your feelings. It helps focus your attention on what is happening at the present moment. It brings awareness to your body and mind. Both meditation and mindfulness can help you feel calmer and manage stress and anxiety better.
Self-care
Don’t forget about you; take time for yourself. We are all busy, and finding time to care for ourselves does not always come easy. Schedule in some alone time. Go for a walk, have a massage or get away for a much-deserved break. We feel guilty when we take those breaks because we believe we’re acting selfishly. It’s important not to feel guilty about wanting to spend time on yourself; it’s essential for your well-being. You cannot care for others if you have not cared for yourself first.
Crafting
Another fun way to deal with daily stress and anxiety is by engaging in a craft such as drawing, coloring, knitting, or making collages or scrapbooks. Crafting can be very calming and refreshing. It can also act as a distraction when needed. Learning something new can help boost your confidence and give you a sense of accomplishment.
Dance
Put on your favorite upbeat tunes and shake your booty. Dancing not only can be a great outlet to release some tension, but it also helps with mobility and muscle coordination. It releases endorphins which can make you happy.
Express Yourself
Writing or journaling is a great way to express your feelings. It can help relieve anxiety and negative emotions such as anger or sadness that have been bottled up inside. It can also be relaxing and meditative. Putting pen to paper can help you make better sense of emotions.
Take care of your body
What you eat can affect your mental health. Depending on what you put in your mouth, it can either give you energy or take your energy away. It can affect your mood, focus, and clarity. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetable to help keep you physically and mentally healthy. Eat an adequate amount of protein and healthy fats. Protein helps maintain proper blood sugar, and good fats feed the brain good omegas so that it can keep working. Make sure to hydrate as well. We often mistake being hungry with really being thirsty. When we are dehydrated, we can lose focus and fail to think clearly.
Open up and talk to somebody
If you are going through a tough time, keeping emotions and feelings bottled up inside can be counterproductive. Sharing your feelings can help lift a heavy load and may give you a feeling of relief. Speak to a friend, sibling or even a stranger. You never know; someone out there may be going through a similar situation and can help.
Mental health is about finding a balance in all aspects of life: physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. It is important to enjoy life and deal with everyday challenges in a healthy manner.