We have to be more intentional when it comes to our mental health. We need to protect it and make it a priority. We have to be intentional in the way we take care of our mind and soul.
When we find ourselves in a situation that causes high stress, it's time to do whatever we can to eliminate it or reduce it. If it has to work, do everything you can do solve stressful situations. If someone is causing issues for you at work, talk it out. Talk to the person causing the stress. A small uncomfortable conversation is better than 8 hours of stress every day. If that doesn't help, go to management. If that doesn't help, go to a therapist! I am a huge proponent of therapy. There is something so great about having someone to talk things through with that have no biases in a situation. Not only are the sessions themselves so valuable but the thoughts leading up to them. I would often think about what I wanted to concentrate on in my next therapy session so I evaluated my life on a regular basis to see what I felt I needed to work on and get some help with.
When it comes to focusing on your mental health, I urge you to do the things you love as often as possible. These can be such simple things. Like, lighting your favorite scented candles when you get home. Taking a warm bath. Listening to music and having an impromptu dance party. Or sit outside and take in the scenes of nature to relax you. Get to the beach or mountains more often to recharge yourself. Take the dog for a walk and just enjoy how they enjoy it. Whatever brings a smile to your face, do more of it. Be intentional about including it more often into your life.
I've talked before about some of the simple things that make me happy. Sitting outside with my coffee and watching the ducks. Or a sunrise at the beach. Chasing my dog around the table outside. Turning my scent warmer on while at home. Begging my friends for boat rides! Having my nails done. Watching live sporting events which is harder to do now so we appreciate them so much more. A sweet treat at the end of the night. Relishing that first cup of coffee in the morning. There are so many little things we love and we need to embrace them and be more present for them more often.
We know we need to take care of our physical health (whether we do or not, we know we should) but we often overlook our mental health. We seem to have this idea that we should be at our best mentally at all times. And it is shameful to say we need to do a little work on our mental health. It's not...why would it be any different than taking care of our physical health? If we want to be in top physical shape we have to work out and eat well. If we want to be in top mental shape, we need to do the same. We need to evaluate where we are, what we need to work on. Determine our strengths and weaknesses. And work on them. We need to feed our mind with things that are healthy just as we do our body. And that includes things that bring you peace and enjoyment. Anything that means to you.
Don't discount the importance of mental health. If we aren't in good mental health, we won't be able to enjoy life to the fullest. Embrace what you need to work on and dedicate time to it. Be intentional about including more of what you love in your life. Schedule it in if you have to.
It's "I wish it were cocktail Friday" Thursday. Poor Thursday! Nobody likes you! Do something you love today because you deserve it. Do something you love every day darn it! Now go out there and be a badass....I'm cheering you on!
Comments