If you are on social media, then you can look around and see that we are making waves in how much mental health is being destigmatized. It can impact your health much like a physical illness can, so it is great that more and more people are talking about it. It is becoming much less of a taboo subject, which is why we can all talk about how we feel much more openly. Let’s keep this conversation going because it’s so important that you take care of your mental health.
With that in mind, it is important to remember to seek out help for depression or any other issue that you have with your mental health; professionals are there for a reason. Finding the right counselor for you is vital. You want someone who creates a safe and empowering space for you, like Rachel Cohen does.
But there are plenty of things that you can do at home to take care of your mental health, that is small things, but they can have a pretty big impact. It would be great to hear what you think.
Mental Health Time Out
The older we get, the more we understand our body and our mind, and we’ll know when we need to take a mental health day. Taking time out when you need one is going to help you to be happier, more productive, and just generally better. So don’t think of it as being selfish when you need to take a mental health day or time out. It is pretty much preventative medicine and can help your overall health, not just your mental health when you’re able to unwind and reduce the stress and overwhelm in your life.
Unwind Before Bed
Getting a good night’s sleep is just what you need to feel better and be healthier. So why do so many of us scroll through our phones late into the night, or sit and watch Netflix in bed? All of this screen time isn’t conducive to sleeping well. Write down notes, meditate, stretch, take a bath, or make yourself a warm milky drink. This will help you to sleep better, as well as break down the day and move on before bed.
Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a bit of a buzzword of late. But in reality, it really can make a difference to your health, and in particular, your mental health. Mindfulness is all about living in the moment and being present. Take breakfast time, for example. Do you eat your breakfast while checking your emails and watching the morning news? This is too much chaos to start your day. Practicing mindfulness is just doing one thing at a time. Eat your breakfast and be present; simply eating your breakfast and being with your thoughts. Doing this a couple of times a day can really have an impact.
Limit Refined Sugar
It is true that reducing the sugar that you eat isn’t going to cure your depression or anxiety, for example. But what it will do is to help keep your blood sugar more stable, meaning that you will feel more energized and won’t want to sleep all day long. Cutting down can help your skin too, as well as weight, so it can be a positive move all around
Take Care of Your Mental Health
It’s so vital that you take care of your mental health. This should be non-negotiable. Whether you struggle with depression and anxiety, or you consider yourself a healthy and happy person, your mental health is vital! Check out this post on the stigma of mental illness here to get a better understanding of the topic.
