Habits to Care for your Mind and Body
Post #3 (2/3/2021)
Benjamin Franklin famously said ” An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This is true in many regards, and your mental health is no exception.
There are many different strategies for “self-care” or what I call “self-respect” that can help you manage stress and find balance. It is especially important to follow these strategies when you are in distress. They will help you cope and get back to neutral.
Needless to say, such strategies or behaviors will have a positive impact on your mental health and wellbeing. However, Mr. Franklin would argue that practicing these behaviors preventatively – not only on an as needed basis – will have a greater impact on your ability to function. In other words, it is good to jump into action to put out a fire but even better to actively safeguard against one from starting in the first place.
In 2021, we are dealing with a global pandemic , ongoing social unrest, and divided politics, just to name a few. This current state of affairs has led us to have different restrictions and limitations on what we can do. With the exception of essential activities, this has kept many of us at home. It’s hard to imagine finding time and motivation to focus on mental health as stress seems to be at an all time high. But, that is why it is especially important to discuss ways to manage it.
Here is a list of things you can do to at home manage and improve your mental health :
1. Get Better Sleep
An absolute essential for managing your health is to follow a consistent sleep schedule that allows you to get the adequate amount of rest. The recommendation provided by most health experts is to get more than 8 hours of sleep per night. Finding a schedule that you can consistently stick to is strongly recommended. That means you should be going to sleep at the same hour and waking up around the same time each day.
Good sleep has been linked to improved focus, better performance, increased productivity, and decreased risk for health issues like suffering a heart attack or stroke. Poor sleep has also been linked to depression. For more information on the benefits of sleep see Healthline’s article on this topic https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-reasons-why-good-sleep-is-important.
2. Stay Active
“Exercise” can be interpreted in many ways but it is clear that it has many benefits. Being physically active has been linked to improved physical health, decreased stress, better mood, and better overall mental functioning. When daily physical activity is paired with a healthy diet, the benefits increase even more. This is especially true when it comes to managing your weight.
What is great is that there are so many ways to be active that would qualify as exercise. Physical activity can be an intense cross fit work out, lifting weights at a gym, or a simple 30 minute walk outside. If you can’t make it to the gym or it is too cold outside, you could always stream paid or free at home workouts online. Besides avoiding a sedentary lifestyle, another bonus with moving around throughout the day is that it serves as a great way to take a break from the computer screen. During your break, you maybe be able have some clarity to process plans and ideas further.
3. Get Organized, Feel Organized
A clean room equals a clean life. What this means is that organizing your space can help organize other aspects of your life, especially your thoughts. When things are in disarray it may be harder to focus, it can mentally drain us, cause us to get distracted, and can make it more challenging to complete tasks. It also may literally be stressful to try and find what you are looking for! Having an organized space can really help you feel better and make completing your tasks easier. I have yet to read any research on how clutter helps you thrive!
4. Try Something New
This is as simple and straightforward as it sounds. Committing to and trying something new each day or even periodically can help you stay mentally stimulated. It also adds some adventure to your day and just makes life a little more interesting! So what are you going to try? Have you ever shared a talent at a virtual open mic night? Have you tried to learn to play an instrument? Is there a coworker or classmate you see often but never have the opportunity to have a conversation with them? Figure out what is on your list of never had experiences and start trying some of them out. Be sure to examine and note what each experience was like for you!
5. Connect with Others
Be sure to stay connected with others! We are social creatures and we thrive on social connection. Having conversations in person or through technology (e.g. texting or voice / video calls) are both helpful ways to show you care and feel cared for. In general, we just do better when that is the case. This would also apply to those you live with! It is important to share stories and check in with each other. Joining in family meetings, meals, games, or other activities are helpful ways to feel connected and combat loneliness. It will also strengthen your relationships and wellbeing.
Remember…
It is impossible to be immune to stress. You are unable to avoid it but you can definitely plan for it. Developing these habits will create the foundation needed for improving your mental health and will put you in a better place to deal with stress.
A quick note on coping skills and self care:
When it comes to your health, you should always do what works for you. This short list mentioned some ways to manage your mental health but there are many more options to try at home. If you find self care activities that can easily be implemented in your life… Do them. If you find ones that do not fit you so well… Look for something else. Do not stress over what you are not connecting with. So if yoga and meditation are not working for you, that’s okay! Find what does. The point is to practice what is healthy and useful to you .
If you or someone you know is having difficulties coping with stress or any other mental health issues, please seek help. For emergencies, contact 911 immediately and ask to be transported to your nearest emergency room. If you are a NJ resident and are interested in counseling services please feel free to reach out to me directly by visiting my “contact” page at meaningandpurpose.org or call the NJHopeline at 1-855-654-6735
Thank you for reading.