7 Effective Ways To Care For Your Mental Health

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Going to the gym, watching what you eat, and wearing clean clothes. These are just a few ways you invest in taking care of your physical health. However, you seem to do so with little regard for your mental health. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one in five American adults lives with a mental health illness. Fortunately, due to various awareness campaigns, there have been more opportunities to understand and learn more about the importance of taking care of your mental health. In an effort to become a healthier and better you, you should also take the time to give your mental health the attention it needs. Here are a few tips you can use to take better care of your mental health.

1. Take a mental health day
You read that right! You literally need to take a day off solely to look after your mental health. On some days, you feel stressed, tired, irritated, and have a slew of other negative feelings. Instead of waiting for a breakdown, you can take the preventive measure of taking a day off to give yourself a much-needed break. During such days, be sure to avoid partaking in stressful activities. Instead, engage in activities that help you calm down. You can get your hobbies or go on a social media break. Or, you can do nothing! Research has shown that simply doing nothing can help ease your mind and increase your creativity and productivity. If that seems too difficult for you, perhaps some Delta 9 gummies would do the trick.

2. Take yourself out of your comfort zone
Sometimes, doing something new is all you need to put yourself in a better mental space. You are comfortable in several situations. Although these may seem safe and helpful, they can become toxic to your mental health. For instance, you may not socialize much and would rather stay at home binge-watching your favorite Netflix shows. To improve your mental health, you must challenge yourself to be more social! Studies have shown that challenging yourself helps you remove the mental roadblocks you have put up. In overcoming these challenges, you have a sense of accomplishment and purpose. You feel invincible and better suited to cope with what was once a daunting situation. Therefore, make it a habit to challenge yourself. Be realistic about these challenges and take baby steps to avoid putting yourself under more stress and other negative effects.

3. Set realistic goals
There are various milestones you want to achieve in different aspects of your life, be it professionally, academically, or even spiritually. This is why you set goals to guide you into achieving them. Although you may aim high, it is important to be realistic about it. You may want to buy a house, but setting a goal to do so when you’re financially unable to do so soon would be unrealistic. Additionally, not achieving these goals could affect your self-esteem, create more stress, and negatively affect your mental health in many other ways. Therefore, be honest and realistic when setting your goals.

4. Practice mindfulness
Mindfulness is an old practice known to help ease the mind and bring calmness. It is the art of being aware of what you do. It means deliberately doing something. When you practice mindfulness, you choose to do things slowly and flexibly instead of multitasking or hurriedly trying to complete a task. There are several ways you can practice mindfulness. A common one is meditation. Meditating encourages relaxation and calmness by being still and letting go of clutter in your mind. This helps you better express and handle your emotions. You can also try breathing exercises and yoga.

5. Focus on gratitude
In the middle of a mental breakdown, the last thing you may be thinking about is everything you are thankful for. However, that may be exactly what you need to do. The stresses of life and challenges you face daily can cause you to focus too much on the negative side of things. This could trigger panic attacks, anxiety, and depression. This is why it is important to try to look at the bright side of things by being thankful every day. Looking out for things that make you happy and influence positive emotions is a great way of balancing out negativity and even overcoming such emotions. But this is easier said than done. Keeping a gratitude journal helps you stay committed to this practice. Finding something to be grateful for, no matter how small, is all you need to put your mental health in a good place every day.

6. Sleep more
Ensuring you’re in good mental health could be as simple as taking a nap! Experts have found that a lack of sleep can cause various mental health disorders, such as depression. According to the Sleep Foundation, the brain uses sleep to process memories and thoughts, and various mental health issues may unfold when there is a lack of it. With this in mind, it is vital to ensure you receive the prescribed six to eight of sleep. You must also get good sleep, as poor sleep can negatively affect your mental health. Invest in good sleep apparel such as mattresses and pillows. You should also ensure that you partake in good sleep routines, such as staying away from screens before bed and avoiding caffeine.

7. Reassess the company you keep
The people you keep around you also play a role in the state of your mental health, so keep this in mind. The truth is, some people you keep in your close circle may not be good people. This is why you need to assess the company you keep. Ensure that you surround yourself with people who encourage kindness and love. Such people make life easier and help you overcome challenges you may experience in your mental health journey. They can be trusted and point you to the right sources to receive the help you need when necessary.