Habits for Mental Health
Mental health can sometimes take a backseat in our lives. We often wait until we feel close to a breakdown, emotionally exhausted or mentally overwhelmed before we get help and make a change. Try incorporating one or more of these habits for mental health today and see how much your mental health improves.
Talk to a professional
Are you concerned about your mental health? Get a professional opinion from your doctor, therapist, or psychiatrist before you self-diagnose. You may be feeling like your experience is normal, even if you are miserable. Ask your doctor if feeling like this is normal, or if it signals a need for increased mental health care. If you feel like hurting or harming yourself, get help right away.
If you are experiencing thoughts of hurting or killing yourself, please contact your doctor or a mental health professional immediately. Please call 911 if you cannot reach them or are experiencing an emergency.
Joining a support group or beginning therapy is a habit that can make a huge difference in your mental health. Therapy can help put some distance between your emotional experiences and your behaviors. For example, if you feel sad, you might immediately turn to food or alcohol to numb out. Therapy can help raise your awareness and reduce impulsive behaviors that might be doing your mental health more harm than good. Therapy can lead to personal growth and help your reach your goals. Additionally, working with a mental health professional can encourage you to be curious about your experiences, thoughts, and emotions.
Self-compassion
A huge part of caring for yourself is practicing self-compassion. Learn to be flexible with your goals and expectations. Expect mistakes when you are learning. Give yourself a break–studies show that perfectionism is harmful to your mental health. Some ways to practice self-compassion are through art and journaling—allowing yourself to process privately and without judgment. You can use art and journaling to tell your story, and you can choose to share this story with others if that is helpful for you. Look for the humor in your mistakes or in your “misadventures” in life instead of holding onto guilt or shame. Reframe what you see as failures as vital learning experiences or essential parts of your journey.
Another way to encourage self-compassion is to take a break from social media. This can help you to stop comparing yourself to others. If you feel like your mental health is suffering, try having self-compassion for yourself from a loved one’s point of view. Practice treating yourself like a best friend would—with empathy and support and without judgment.
Gratitude journaling
We often talk about the benefits of gratitude journaling. It’s a simple, easy, quick, and free way to improve your mental health and mood. Spend a couple of minutes each day writing down three things you are thankful for. If you write this list before bed every night, you could also include three things you accomplished. These don’t have to be big accomplishments. This could include getting out of bed, making a delicious sandwich for lunch, or watering your favorite plant.
Sleep as self-care
One way to care for your mental health is to prioritize your sleep. Work to keep a consistent sleep schedule and a relaxing before-bed routine. Before bed, limit your social media and screen time–yes, that includes your phone. Replace nightly scrolling time with listening to your favorite audiobook, writing in your journal, doing restorative yoga, or taking an aromatherapy bath. When you sleep, keep your room as dark as possible and free of distractions. Cooldown for the best sleep: for most individuals, the optimal temperature for sleeping is around 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Find more tips here on sleep hygiene from the Sleep Foundation.
Meditation
Have you tried meditation? Meditation is a habit for mental health that’s backed by science. Meditation works to train the mind to redirect thoughts, which can reduce mental stress and anxiety. Try guided meditations through apps like Calm or Headspace when first starting out. If silence or stillness doesn’t feel good for you, try meditative practices like yoga, mindful coloring, nature walks, or contemplative prayer.
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Other habits like exercise, eating well, and socializing are beneficial for mental health and well-being. For more habits to enhance your well-being, read one of our latest blog posts here.
Are you looking for more support during this stressful time? Please reach out to us. Our team of therapists is here to provide support and guidance. We look forward to connecting with you.
