Self Care in Mental Health
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, which reminds us how essential mental health is and to treat each other with compassion. Of course, some of us are more vulnerable than others, but everyone faces challenges in life that can impact their mental health.
As humans, we keep ourselves very busy with work, family and other responsibilities. As a result, we put off the yoga session, cut back on socializing and maybe even skipped a few meals.
We don't think twice about putting self-care on the back burner to keep up with our lifestyles. But our bodies keep count, and if you don't take care of yourself, you'll end up burnt out, exhausted and overworked!
It may sound indulgent, but self-care is crucial for our physical, emotional and mental wellbeing.
What is Self Care in Mental Health?
Self care in mental health includes doing things that keep your mind sharp, like puzzles, or learning about a subject that fascinates you. You might find reading books or watching movies that inspire you fuels your mind. 4. Mental self-care also involves doing things that help you stay mentally healthy.
How self care helps mental health?
Engaging in a self-care routine has been clinically proven to reduce or eliminate anxiety and depression, reduce stress, increase happiness, and more. It can help you adapt to changes, build strong relationships, and recover from setbacks.
Here are some tips to help you with your self care routine for mental health:
- Make a menu for the week.
Let's face it, sometimes the last thing we want to do after a long day is to cook a healthy meal with tons of different ingredients. But if you take a little time before the week begins to set out your meals, prep ingredients, and not even think about what's for dinner, eating nutritious food becomes a little easier.
Meal planning also eliminates the impulse chocolate bar buying at the register. Checkers has a variety of ingredients, ready-made meals and fresh ingredients to make your weekly shopping a breeze! Treat yourself to a Starbucks coffee as a reward for sorting your weekly meals out.
- Try that workout class.
One does not need to be doing a full-on, high-intensity workout every day of the week. Opt for a relaxing, meditative yoga practice or a pilates class at BASI Pilates. Just getting in 30 minutes of aerobic exercise will do wonders for your mental and physical health. Three 10 minute strolls throughout the day are perfectly acceptable!
READ: 5 WAYS TO ACHIEVE FITNESS GOALS & INCREASE MOTIVATION
- Get adequate sleep.
Healthy adults should be getting seven to nine hours of shut-eye per night. When you're sleeping, your brain rids itself of toxins, refreshes your memory and builds neural pathways. So yes, sleeping is not lazy; it's self-care!
If you're struggling to sleep, why not pop into Wellness Warehouse, which has a variety of natural sleep aids from herbal teas to plant supplements.
- Start your day with something pleasant.
Developing a ritual every morning brings peace and presence to the day. A couple of minutes in the morning spent writing down five things you're grateful for or walking through a sweet-smelling flower garden can set your day for success!
Next time you pick up your morning Bootlegger's coffee, take a moment to smell the rich coffee aroma and sip your drink without any distractions, enjoying the atmosphere with all of your senses.
Alternatively, Sign up and join the ladies at Run For Coffee a collective of women from all walks of life who run together 2-3 times a week and enjoy a nice warm post-run cup of coffee. Click here for more information
- Enjoy a family dinner.
Whoever your support system is, make sure to schedule some quality time with them over a delicious meal. Spending time with our loved ones always boosts serotonin levels. Having a set meal time where you either sit with your family or significant other or just alone to eat and enjoy your meal can be an excellent way to connect with your loved ones.
Book your next dinner at NV80, winners of the World's Best Steak in Africa award - your tastebuds will thank you!
Don't leave your self-care for the weekend or the December holidays. Instead, visit The Point Mall in Seapoint and start building your self-care habits today. You will notice a difference in no time!