What is Self-Care?
Some of the happiest people I know all have one thing in common – they always make time for self – care. Self-care is defined as the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one’s health.
Having a solid grasp of this concept, and actually putting it into practice, can help us live happier, fuller lives.
There are so many important types of self care; physical, emotional, mental and spiritual, just to name a few. We often think of it as a luxury, but should be treating it as a priority.
Mental health in particular, is the core of self care. If we are not mentally stable, other things like focusing on physical health become difficult to achieve.
I find that if my mind isn’t in the right place, working out feels like a chore and procrastination sets in. Taking care of your mental health can make all the difference in your quality of life.
The more we neglect the importance of self-care, the more overwhelmed we become and eventually burn out.
With time, this can take a serious toll on our mental health, so why not embrace self-care and reap all its benefits? Your mind will thank you for it!
Here are 5 Self-care Tips to Improve Your Mental Health
1. Practice Positive Thinking
This might be the most important tip on my list and the philosophy I live by. No matter what you are going through, there may be someone out there experiencing something worse.
Take comfort in knowing that this stressful moment will pass and you will be ok.
Negative thinking will never improve a bad situation. Positive thinking, on the other hand, can literally turn things around.
Simple ways to practice this daily can be :
- finding humor in something that would otherwise cause you stress (spilling coffee on your shirt before work)
- not sweating the small stuff (that guy that cut you off on the road)
- focusing on the present; after all, it’s the only thing we have some control over. Focusing on the past or future won’t help and can only add unnecessary stress to your day.
2. Nutrition
We all know eating well is connected to mental health. Certain foods give us energy while others can fog our minds. When it comes to nutrition, my advice is to simply start slow.
Choose five healthy foods to always have in your kitchen – mine are blueberries, sweet potatoes, greens, beets, and oatmeal. Incorporate these into what you eat daily.
When you have a few staples, healthy eating starts to become second nature.
It’s not just what we put in our bodies that will feed our brains, it’s the simple act of trying to eat better….this sends positive feelings through our bodies and mentally makes us feel good about ourselves… a win – win!
3. Get Your Beauty Sleep
Sleep is extremely important for mental health. Our minds and bodies need ample rest to take the world on daily.
Try to go to bed 30 min earlier every night – you’d be surprised how easy this one is. It’s just about creating a habit. Having a “why” can be extremely helpful here.
For example, I wanted to wake up earlier to get some exercise in before the start of the day. This can be anything that’s important to you; having extra time in the morning to journal, or just simply being able to savor a cup of tea.
Having that extra time in the morning can help start your day out in a positive way. I set an alarm 30 min before I should be sleeping; this helps me start wrapping things up for the night and keeps me accountable.
4. Take Yourself on a Date for Mental Clarity
Saturday mornings are sacred to me! I wake up early, do some yoga stretches, hit the shower and head to the Union Square farmers market in Manhattan.
The city is just waking up and I feel like I have it all to myself. I stroll the market and enjoy the beautiful scenery…fruits, veggies, flowers, and freshly baked goods. I grab a hot tea and sit in the park and just have “me” time.
I take this time to listen to a podcast, read, or simply watch the people pass by. This helps me gain mental clarity on things I don’t usually have time to give my full attention to, due to life’s many distractions.
Find your Saturday morning self-care ritual and make it a routine. Having something to look forward to at the end of the week can help create a positive mindset.
No need to feel guilty about this one…after all, this is just part of you taking care of yourself!
5. Recognize the Good You Do
We tend to be overly hard on ourselves and focus on the things we do wrong. I don’t know about you, but I am SO guilty of this!
Make a list of things you’re good at, read it over from time to time and be grateful for these skills. Gratitude can lead to positive thinking and boost your self-esteem which is key for mental health.
The Bottom Line
Taking time to prioritize yourself can improve your mental health, making it easier to focus on achieving greatness in other areas in your life.
We live in a fast-paced world and need to slow down to really appreciate everything it has to offer.
Start with one of the tips above and let me know what positive changes you observe in your quality of life. My hope is that you notice the amazing benefits of self care and that others around you will be inspired to follow.
What is your favorite way to practice self-care? Let me know, I would love to hear from you!
