Resources & Education

mental health, sleep, gratitude, mindfulness, nature, self-care

Adopting a Self-Care Routine to Improve Mental Health

Posted by Kristen Fitzgerald on 1/12/2023

Share:

Adopting a Self-Care Routine to Improve Mental Health

With the many demands we face every day; it is not always easy to take time for yourself. When one is struggling with mental health, even attending to the basic needs of food, hygiene, sleep, and hydration can be a struggle.

Practicing self-care means taking care of yourself physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Self-care techniques, such as the ones listed below, can help reduce stress, and increase one’s self-awareness. Increasing self-awareness can help you recognize patterns in your emotions, including situations that can trigger worsened mental health symptoms. Additionally, it can help identify what activities or tasks are necessary for your well-being, soothe negative symptoms or stress, or simply bring pleasure or relaxation.

Self-Care Tips:

Regular Exercise: Even 30 minutes of walking every day can help boost your mood and improve your mental and physical health. This can be all at once or broken into three 10-minute walks.
Healthy Eating Habits: A balanced diet and staying hydrated can improve your energy and focus throughout the day.
Making Sleep a Priority: Blue light from devices and screens can make it harder to fall asleep at night, so reduce exposure from your phone or computer an hour before bedtime.
Practice Gratitude: Remind yourself daily of things you are grateful for and be specific.
Focus on Positivity: Identify and challenge your negative and unhelpful thoughts.
Stay Connected: Reach out to your friends or family members who can provide emotional support and help.
Try Relaxing Activities: Explore relaxation through drawing, journaling, painting, or listening to calming music.
Spend time in Nature: Time outside reduces cortisol levels. Take a hike, go kayaking, walk the dog, sit in a garden.
Plan something: Plan a trip, a coffee date with a friend, a bubble bath for later, or a birthday party. Having something to look forward to is fun and exciting.
Practice saying what you mean: Ask for help when you need it. Say “No” if you can’t or don’t want to do something. You will feel less stressed and resentful.

It may take trial and error to discover what works best for you and your schedule. Adopting a self-care routine is vital for your mental health. Research suggests the more we practice self-care activities, the more confident, creative, and productive we are. We also experience more joy, make better decisions, build stronger relationships, and communicate more effectively.

It’s also important to remember that sometimes self-care doesn’t mean adding something to your day but can also mean taking something away!

Add Comment Back to Resources & Education