May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and as the days pass, I realize i need to spend a little more time honoring my own emotional state.
Everything is fine (everything is always fine), but a lot is spiraling in my world: from big things I can’t change, to little things I also can’t change. Sometimes, I have to take a breath and honor those feelings in order to work toward my best self.
Spend Time With Yourself
Spending time alone can be intimidating, but it’s also so critical. Still your mind. Free yourself from distractions. Give yourself space and opportunity to engage your thoughts. I find I am in a much better place after some quiet alone time.
Treat Yourself To Something Amazing
When you need to pay special attention to your mental health, do something to boost your mood. I did some silly things this month, like going to a Nicolas Cage movie with friends all in matching Nic Cage shirts. We also glammed up for a local Mom Prom, and danced all night. It was amazing how badly I needed those things, and how much they improved my outlook.
Adjust Your Lifestyle
When things aren’t working, it’s time to make changes. I find that adjusting my lifestyle can have a positive effect on my mood and mental health. Get more veggies and water. Add in some workouts. Cut back on alcohol or caffeine. Work on small, sustainable changes that you can maintain in order to improve your mood and wellbeing.
Tweak Your Sleep Habits
Good sleep is critical to mental health awareness. As an insomniac with anxiety, I can attest that sleep can make or break my emotional state. I do my best to set myself up for success at bedtime, to improve my chances of better days head. This involves turning in at a reasonable hour, giving up screens about 39 minutes before I head to bed, reading, and using my Cani-Sleep oral spray (use code RUNSWITHPUGS25 to save).
Go To Therapy
I know there’s still a huge stigma about going to therapy, but believe me when I say it’s awesome. Yes, it’s hard, and it takes work, but ii is also so freeing. You will never regret it.
How do you honor your mental health?
Welcome to Fit Five Friday, our new linkup!
We’ve got FIVE incredible co-hosts, and we are ready to link up every Friday to share YOUR weekly fitness favorites! Join My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida every Friday for Fit Five Friday! Who’s ready for some fun?
Grab our graphic and share the love!
This is a great post Jenn. For the last month or so, I’ve been feeling a bit off. There have been huge changes at work but I sometimes find myself struggling with the small things as well – procrastinating, instead of just getting things done. Running really helps but I need to adjust a lot of other things as well – starting with getting to bed on time, reducing screen time, and doing something for myself – like my nails or a massage or a facial.
All these tips are great. Adjusting your lifestyle is a huge one, because somehow when you’re struggling mentally you somehow want to do all the things that make it worse- eat poorly, drink more, and move less. Getting enough sleep is so important too (boy, you’re specific- you get off screens 39 minutes before bedtime?) I think there’s less and less stigma around therapy these days, which is a great thing. overall a great post!
I am all for more sleep it makes a huge difference. For me, giving myself some grace and letting go of what I think things should be and just enjoy what is have been things I am working on
39 minutes before bed? That seems like such an exact number (but still a great idea).
You can’t pour from an empty cup. I applaud how you make time for yourself when you have so many relying on you!
Chocolaterunsjudy recently posted…5 Tips to Choose a Running Tour
All such important points! For me, I find that time by myself to unplug and recharge really helps, along with upping my sleep game.