Self-Care and Mental Health: Tips to Look After Yourself
Think of all you do each day, from the time you pull yourself out of bed until you climb back in. If you’re like most people, you’re probably going full-strength all day, taking care of your family’s needs and working eight-plus hours. Then, it’s home for dinner, maybe a few hours of watching TV and scrolling through social media, and tending to your family’s needs some more. Afterward, it’s late-night comedy, some more time with social media, then, finally (if you’re lucky), sleep.
We’re busy people. In fact, we may be too busy. Think about how long it has been since you took time for yourself. According to Joyce Meyer, we don’t take care of our physical selves, we’ve lost touch with exercise, we tend to do way too much for others, and we’ve allowed our lives to get out of control. So, it’s no wonder that we feel exhausted, even after we wake up in the mornings. Taking care of yourself is challenging, but if we’re to get our lives back in order and relieve a lot of the stress we feel, we need to start by doing these four things.
Learn to Relax
This is the most important step because, frankly, we’re not good at it. We’re in a world of things that constantly and unnecessarily demand our attention: news, social media, people from work who think you’re up at 2 a.m. and can solve a problem for them, and the list goes on. You need to check out during the day and switch your mind to something else, perhaps by engaging in a beloved hobby. You may also benefit from practicing yoga and meditation, both of which can help you become more centered, relaxed, and focused, and generate positive thoughts.
Make Healthy Food Choices
Eating well is a critical part of any good self-care plan. You’ll feel better both physically and mentally, and you’ll have the energy you need to get through even the most stressful of days. Making sound food choices isn’t always easy, of course, and it can be hard to say no to the convenience of fast food. However, cooking at home can help you eat more nutritiously, and if convenience is what you’re after, having fresh food delivered to your doorstep can help you build and maintain a healthy eating plan for the sake of your overall wellness. You may even lose a few pounds!
Learn to Say No
According to Kristin Wong of The New York Times, saying no more often leads to a happier life. It’s our nature to be socially obliging, but when we get overwhelmed with these obligations, we tend to take on too much. That can lead to stress. The key to saying no is to do so with grace and without malice — just say it and give a clear reason that also communicates encouragement for the asker to find another solution. The less we have to deal with, the more time we have to ourselves to get things done, and the less stress we might have.
Learn to Sleep
This should be easy: lie on your bed and close your eyes. But it’s not. According to Paul Kelley at The Guardian, you’re more likely to sleep well if you eat well, exercise, and make time for social or family life. Instead, we fill our days with double-espresso coffee drinks, stay up too late binge watching a TV series, and respond to everything everybody says on Facebook. Make sure your home (and everyone in it) is prepared for restful sleep each night. Switch off all devices, turn off the TV, and dim or turn off all lights.
Consider, too, that your own mattress and pillow might be a problem. Prevention.com claims that if it takes you more than an hour to fall asleep, your mattress might be to blame. Since a new mattress set can be a considerable investment, consider quick fixes such as plywood between the mattress and box spring, or a mattress topper to improve support and comfort.
When we take these steps and finally learn to take care of ourselves, we will become less stressed, more energetic, and more on course with our lives.
Photo Credit: Pixabay.com
