Happy World Mental Health Day! Taking care of yourself is one of the most important core concepts to living the most vibrant and badass version of your life. Here are some of my favorite things to do to boost mental health when I’m in a slump or if I’m feeling good and want to elevate my state even further!
Do something relaxing. In our pretty high stress society, it is very beneficial to do the things that bring some zen into your life. My favorite way to do this is taking a candlelit bubble bath while reading a good book with a glass of wine and cheese board. Other relaxation suggestions include face masks, curling up on the couch with a good book, cuddling with pets or even something random like watching soap cutting videos on Youtube. Whatever you can think of that helps you slow down your brain and unwind your body is perfect for this category!
Do something creative. Or as Eve Rodsky would say – find your unicorn space. Print out some pictures and cut up some magazines to make a vision board. Draw, paint, or color a coloring book. Check out Pinterest for art project inspiration. Re-do or paint a piece of furniture in your house. Think back to when you were young and what kind of creative activities you enjoyed. Everyone has creativity inside of them but some people have shut it down for so long that they can’t find it easily. Learn how to get back in tune with that side of yourself by trying some random activities outside of your comfort zone. Give yourself permission to take time to give yourself a creative outlet. Lean into the specific things that make you unique and find a way to share it with the world around you.
Do something social. Shoot a text to someone you haven’t talked to in a while and let them know you are thinking of them. You could even make plans for the future or call/Facetime them and see if they answer. Positive social connections are hugely important for overall mental health. You could even plan a group social event like brunch or happy hour or meeting up at a local park to go on a hike to bring people together.
Write a list of 100 gratitudes. This helps your brain to focus on the awesome things in your life. It is impossible to focus on the negative and the positive at the same time. As much as possible, it is great to try to go with the positive. The list can go from intensely specific to vaguely general things in your life. Start with the people you love, the objects in your house that bring you joy, and daily moments that make you smile.
Move your body. There are so many resources online for any kind of workout you can imagine or you can ease into this by walking around your neighborhood. I love to hate HIIT workouts that get the heart rate up but are pretty quick workouts. Yoga is great for flexibility and relaxation. Variety is great to mix things up instead of getting stuck in a workout rut. My general routine is going to Burn Boot Camp a few times a week and the camps rotate between strength and cardio days. I can tell a difference in how I feel when I take the time to workout.
Read an inspiring book. Pick a topic that connects with you and dive in. Here are some of my faves –
- You are a Badass by Jen Sincero
- Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
- Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
- The Happiness Project by Gretchin Rubin
- Fair Play and Find Your Unicorn Space by Eve Rodsky
- Untamed by Glennon Doyle
Most importantly, be patient with yourself and feel all of your feelings. We spend a lot of time in our lives avoiding and numbing our feelings but they all serve a purpose. You can never really feel the positive emotions unless you have the uncomfortable ones in contrast. Life is crazy right now for everyone. There is a lot going on that we have never had to deal with before which is hard. Cry if you want. It’s okay to feel stressed or overwhelmed. It’s also okay to feel hopeful and happy. You can even feel all of those things within one day or even one hour. But you have to feel them or all the feelings will bottle up and eventually explode.
What are other things you do personally to take care of your mental health? If you have been struggling to prioritize this part of your life, hit me up and we can come up with a personalized plan for you!