Mental Health Awareness Month | A Simple Guide To Self-Care
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time for reflection and refocus on the state of our minds.
Oftentimes, the conversation goes silent on the subject, but in reality, we all have mental health, which calls for the importance of checking in. Self-care is something we as women strive to incorporate in our daily lifestyles, but its also a form of mental health, an avenue of connecting more deeply to our needs and with each other. The effects of the pandemic and all that we have experienced in the past year has weighed heavy on everyone in different ways. Whether clinical or less serious, our mental health has been impacted simply by the day to day around us.
As things began to open up, normalize a little more and become closer to what we know as familiar, now is the perfect time to refresh and refocus, check our energy, find our center, release, communicate with each other and pour into ourselves.. all of which promote a healthy mental state.
A Simple Guide To Self-Care
Here is a list of things to consider adding to your regular self-care routines this month to help
insure a stronger mentality.
Schedule a Spa Date: Pedicures and facials are heavenly and something we get the opportunity to fit in our schedules more often. But spending some quality time at a spa to release, by way of massage services, steam room or full body treatments can serve as a mini mental getaway from our normal.
Start a new book. Find a place each weekend outdoors to tune out of the world and tune in to some inspiring literature. Do something different. If you are used to cozying up on the couch to read at home, plan to pack a lunch along with your books and head out to a park for an hour of silence and reading.
Journaling. Often times, we may not realize how we are really feeling until it’s on paper. Take a moment to take inventory of your thoughts and current state of mind by writing it down. Choose a time period, the past 90 days, or even the last year and write down everything you have experienced. You’d be amazed at what you discover. Gratitude Journals are awesome as well!
Take a social media and news break. These days, information is so rapid it’s a challenge to keep up with all that’s happening around us. Social Media is a great form of connection but can also be filled with negativity, toxic news and content that can easily become distractions. It’s critical to take some time to unplug, turn down the noise and focus on you. If you are an avid social media user, or tune in to the news media regularly, choose a day, a week or even just a time frame during the day to log off or change the channel. Doing so could help cleanse, organize and refresh your thoughts.
Check in with a friend or family member. Schedule a virtual coffee date or outing with a girlfriend that you might not get a chance to talk to often, just to catch up or discuss Mental Health. Girl time and sisterhood is important for our well being. And although we often get together for wine or a night out, set some time aside to really check on your sister. You never know what someone is going through, and they may not know what you are feeling.
Consider a Therapist or a Life Coach. Every single one of us face challenges, hard times, and things that are tough to get through alone. So it is ok to talk to someone about those things. It’s a form of releasing, and possibly direction on improving our circumstances. At times, it can be uncomfortable to talk to friends or family. Life Coaches are professionals in the areas of guidance and self care, and could be a great source of support.
Lastly, if you or anyone you know may be experiencing challenges of any kind in relation to clinical Mental Health or Depression, we’d like to offer a a website providing a number of resources and plenty of information that could be of assistance and support.
Via HealthyPlace.com: To Find “Mental Health hotline numbers for everything from alcohol treatment to panic disorder. Also National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and Mental Health America (MHA) state affiliate websites.”
~Be Well This Month, Check In On Each Other, And Don’t Forget To Invest In You ~