How to Take An Effective Mental Health Day
The importance of self-care that we take for granted.
In our busy day to day life, we forget to slow down, be present, and take care of ourselves. We only start noticing when we feel burned out, overwhelmed, or is effecting our daily life. We have to learn to sharpen our saw, meaning taking care of ourselves, emotionally and physically by taking the time to do things that help us live well, bring joy, and is restorative to our mental and physical health. That’s what self-care does. Self-care can help you manage stress, lower your risk of illness, and increase your energy.
Here are some tips to help you get started with self-care:
Get regular exercise for at least 30-minutes per day.
Have a healthy balanced diet and plenty of water.
Have a healthy sleep routine.
Relaxation activities indoors (e.g. meditation, mindfulness exercise, journaling) or outdoors (e.g. hiking, swimming, walking).
Set goals and priorities. Not everything needs to be done in one day. Learn to say no to new tasks if your overwhelmed.
Take breaks at work. The most important thing is your health; breaks are designed for breaks. Remember that everyone is replaceable.
Practice gratitude. Sometimes we are so focused on the things that are not going right in our lives that we forget to see that things that are good in our lives. Remind yourself of daily things that you are grateful for.
Challenge your thoughts. A thought is just a thought, it is not the same as the truth, we give it meaning and story behind it.
Stay connected. We are social being by nature. Reach out to a friend or family member and make plans.
Self-care is different for everyone. Be patient with yourself. This takes practice! Its not the destination that fulfils your soul but the journey that gets you there.
