There are so many stressors and triggers in our world today. It’s now harder than ever to keep yourself in a healthy mental state with everything going on. Give yourself the gift of kindness and mental flexibility by trying to incorporate a couple of these into your day-to-day lifestyle. You’ll find yourself more at peace with yourself as well as the world around you.
Know Thy Self
Knowing what your triggers are is half the battle. When you feel yourself getting heated, try identifying the problem and logging it away. The next time you find yourself in that situation, you’ll know to tread lightly or to be kinder to yourself. It isn’t about avoiding those types of situations all together, but rather understand they may push some buttons, so be ready to react (or not) accordingly. Always allow yourself the ability to walk away or revisit a situation later.
Heading Down the Rabbit Hole
Don’t allow yourself to go own endless rabbit holes – internet based or not. If you notice yourself in a spiral, put the phone down or take a break from what is causing it. Our brains are wired to be problem solvers and by traveling further and further, you are getting more out of touch with reality and your brain is happy to go along for the ride. Bring yourself back to the present and focus on the things that are in your control, right now.
Take Time to Recharge
Be sure to spend some time alone with yourself to take care of your mental health. Lots of people exercise to dig deep and let go of stress, but maybe your thing is a good book and tea. Find what makes you feel relaxed and recharged and always schedule time to do so. You can’t pour from an empty cup, so make sure yours is always ready to go.
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay
Mental Health isn’t about never feeling any sadness, hurt, or struggle. The goal isn’t to be a peppy positive person all the time. Allow yourself to be sad, or upset, or even angry, but what is important is how you handle it and how it affects your life. Explore your feelings, but then come up with a game plan on how to move on or accept these into your life. If you can accept your feelings as exactly what they are, it will be much easier to move forward in a better direction.
Healthy Habits = Healthy Mind
Keep a good sleep schedule that gives you enough energy throughout the day. Cultivate healthy habits before bedtime and this will be a breeze. Start winding down a couple hours before bed – brush your teeth, maybe work in a little meditation and breathing and wind down slowly rather than hitting the bed and crashing. Find an outlet to let go of everything bothering you before you hit the hay. The last thing you want to do is carry over baggage from the prior day into a fresh new one.
Keeping your mental state healthy can be much easier by exploring options and finding little ways to take care of yourself. Come up with a few of your own and you’ll be well on your way to a happier lifestyle.
