Self Care
All too often, when we are so busy with our lives, we tend to forget about ourselves. People like Brad Krause of selfcaring.info/ are here to help! Brad sent an article that he wrote about self care to #doitforshelby and I would really like to share it with you.
Take good care of yourselves!
It's OK to get help!
7 Easy Acts Of Self-Care For Your Mental Health
Author: Brad Krause selfcaring.info/
Fitness is a crucial part of self-care. It keeps you healthy and is one of the best ways to live a happier, fuller, and more fulfilling life. However, your body isn’t the only thing you should be taking care of. Self-care should also be about your mental health, preventing habits that bring you down and nurturing ones that lift you up. Here are a few easy ways to start doing that.
Practice Good Sleep Hygiene
This doesn’t mean keeping your bed clean (although you should definitely do that). The Sleep Foundation defines sleep hygiene as the habits you practice to ensure a good night’s sleep, which is essential to your mental well-being. Consider buying a new mattress if your current one isn’t helping. If your budget is tight, avoid king or queen-size models and go for a cheaper full-size option (you can find full-size mattresses for under $300). Make a point to also start a bedtime routine you can stick to. A good night’s rest is paramount for your mental and physical health.
Know When To Say No
Saying yes to more things can change your life in a variety of wonderful ways, but it is equally important to know when to say no. If you suspect that someone around you - be it a coworker, family member, or friend - is taking advantage of your kindness, you need to learn to be less available. That doesn’t mean being rude or mean - just prioritizing your own time and self-respect above the opinion of others.
Look For Joy
The next time you find yourself feeling down, actively look for things that make you happy. It could be a playlist, a video, a book, an activity, or a chat with a friend. Also, try smiling (even if you don’t feel like it): the act itself can trick your brain into feeling better.
Be Mindful
Mindfulness is all the rage right now, but it’s a lot more than a passing fad. Simply put, being mindful is about learning to live in the present moment without letting yourself be overwhelmed by your environment - this article by Mindful does a good job of explaining it in depth. You can practice mindfulness through meditation, but you can also simply try to incorporate it into your daily life by slowing down and refusing to just go through the motions.
Make Time for Relaxing by Removing Home Stressors
Relaxation sounds nice, but many of us feel like we just don’t have time for it. The secret is that the time is never going to just present itself - you have to carve it out of your schedule. Make sure you are regularly including downtime to do something soothing in your daily routine to avoid burnout. One of the best ways to relax is to remove the stressors from your home. It’s well-known that clutter causes stress, so make it your mission to declutter your home. If the job seems overwhelming or you’re having trouble getting started, you can bring in a home organizer consultant to help. Or if that’s not in your budget, you can hire a cleaning service instead. Maid services usually charge between $149 and $274 per cleaning in Memphis.
Monitor Your Stress
Developing an awareness of your stress levels at any given time can help you moderate them. Keeping a stress diary is a good way to do this. It allows you to identify periods of high stress and to work out your triggers and your physical symptoms. Once you know these, you can curb stress before it gets out of hand.
Call Someone
Finally, if your mental health is truly suffering and you are feeling hopeless, always, always reach out to someone. It is important to remember that you are not alone, that loads of people feel the same way, and that there are plenty of resources to help. Whether it’s a friend, your mom, or a mental health hotline, someone will help you through when you need it.
Taking care of your mental health doesn’t mean pushing yourself until you have a breakdown and need to see a doctor. It should be a continuous effort of self-care and self-love in which you work to prevent and manage negative emotions. These small habits are not expensive, time-consuming, or even very complex - they are just simple ways to be kind and supportive to yourself as you try to live a healthier life.
