Self-care involves an intentional endeavor to take care of oneself. More often than not, you are responsible for your happiness and mental wellbeing, more than some external factor. However, many people hardly dedicate the time to take care of themselves. The quest for daily bread and to meet obligations has made many ignore their mental health.
However, you can make a deliberate plan to take care of your mental health. It does involve some planning and strategizing to keep your mental health at the top level. It is an approach to ensure that your psychological health thrives and prosper because your physical health will suffer if your mental health is not in good shape.
With the above in mind, here are eight actionable tips to improve your mental health
1. Take a break and Relax.
You have a right to take care of yourself. You will not live life to the fullest if you are constantly trying to meet various needs – job, relationship, societal, etc. it is essential to take a step back and take care of yourself, or risk a breakdown.
Don’t feel guilty for unplugging once in a while and focusing on yourself. Amidst the series of obligations and responsibilities you need to meet, it is okay to take a step back and care for yourself.
It doesn’t have to be something elaborate. Your break might involve taking a walk, relaxing in the tub with your favorite music underground, taking time out to sleep, etc. You can also try great tasting CBD tincture for sleep as it helps to relax your body and manage stress.
2. Get Enough Physical Activity
Exercise makes mental health thrive. Also, there is more to exercise than building muscles. It increases the surge in feel-good chemicals in the brain. This presents a way to overcome depression, fight stress, and enjoy a good mood.
This is not about getting a gym subscription or registering at the fitness class. An active lifestyle might involve short walks, brisk walking, cycling, hiking, stairs, etc.
3. Get Enough Sunlight
Sunlight remains one of the natural sources of Vitamin D. It is a pretty important chemical essential to the body and brain. It triggers some chemicals which help in mood improvement, like endorphins.
It is a good idea to try and get the early morning sunlight for at least 30 minutes daily. However, ensure to keep your skin safe from sunburn. It is common for some people to experience seasonal depression due to enough sunlight in the winter. This is called Seasonal Affective Disorder. There are artificial lights that can help with this.
4. Connect With People
Connecting with other people will also go a long way to improve one’s mental health. As a result, make friends and be sociable whenever you can. Having people around will improve your self-esteem and provide the needed support for times when feeling blue.
Based on research, it has been discovered that talking to others can improve your memory. Even if meeting people outside seems like a daunting task, consider social media to meet new people.
5. Get a Pet
A Pet can change your life in many ways than you can imagine. The support and companionship, for instance, can banish feelings of isolation. When you care for such a pet, it can also improve your mood. Dogs, for example, will force you to get exercise and boost your mood. According to studies, taking care of any pet will improve your mood significantly. Think about the funny face your dog makes or the adorable big eyes!
Photo by Samson Katt from Pexels
6. Disregard the opinion of people
The opinion of others has caged many people. Some people think some judge accesses and passes judgment on their life, choices, and activities. It is common to base their life on others’ opinions and constrict their lives to what they assume others want for them.
This has made people self-conscious about their life which leads to unhealthy comparisons. The presence of social media does not make things easy as people now compare themselves with others and use them as their yardstick for success.
However, the truth is that no one is perfect, and almost everyone puts up their best foot on social media. As a result, you need to quit getting yourself worked upon people’s opinions for your sanity.
7. Do something for others
You want to feel good about yourself and improve your mental health, consider doing things for others. Such activity can reward you with a surge of serotonin which makes you feel good about yourself. It can improve your self-esteem and solidify your place in the community.
It can be as simple as volunteering, reaching out to the poor or needy. You can even donate your unused item to charity or a poor neighbor. You get to declutter and even feel good about it.
8. Consider Meditation
Meditation is a powerful stress buster. It is a practice that can bring the mind and attention to the moment, away from the distractions and worry that characterize many people.
Relaxation exercise engages the breath to ensure your focus is on the present. While thoughts will come and go, you simply become an observer without judging or fighting them. This practice aims to improve both physical and mental health.
Photo by Samuel Theo Manat Silitonga from Pexels
Conclusion
Self-care is something everyone should adopt. It will go a long way to keep your mental health in top condition and help maintain your sanity.
Photo by Polina Kovaleva from Pexels
Author: Mandy Kloppers
Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.
You must be logged in to post a comment.