How to Practice Self-care for Good Mental Health

The importance of good mental health is recognized by pretty much everyone today, but most people don’t know where to begin. Self-care is often thought of in terms of physical health, but it’s just as essential for mental well-being. 

True self-care involves a holistic approach—nurturing both your body and mind through practices that include physical activities, balanced nutrition, socialization, and relaxation. This kind of holistic approach is also important because activities that we think of as unconnected can directly impact your mental health, which in turn affects physical health.

Here are some lifestyle and behavioral practices that you should adopt as part of your self-care routine to improve your mental health.

Self-Care Practices Essential For Your Mental Health

1. Talk To A Therapist

It’s important to recognize and accept that mental health problems can affect anyone and self-care isn’t just important for those with severe mental illnesses. Just as you would visit your general physician for an annual health check, it’s also important to talk to a therapist from time to time. 

This will help you develop better self-awareness and a deeper understanding of your mental health, empowering you to cope with stress, anxiety, and other experiences that can threaten your mental health. Today, with online somatic therapy, behavioral therapy, and psychodynamic therapy, it’s easy to find something that works for you without costing you too much.

2. Be Active

Exercise isn’t just important for physical fitness; it’s also essential for your mental health. Numerous studies show that simple forms of exercise such as walking for just half an hour a day can lower levels of stress hormones like cortisol while boosting feel-good endorphins. 

Although the precise mechanisms through which exercise improves mental health may not be understood, it’s clear that people who are active have a reduced risk of stress disorders, depression, and other mental illnesses.

3. Eat Healthy

Healthy eating is so strongly associated with weight loss and physical health that we overlook its impact on mental health. However, research shows that common nutritional deficiencies including vitamin D, B6, and magnesium can increase the risk of depression. 

The best way to meet your nutritional requirements is by eating a variety of whole foods for balanced nutrition while cutting out ultra-processed foods, which are calorie-dense but nutritionally poor.

4. Prioritize Downtime

Always make time for yourself no matter how busy you might be. Without adequate free time to relax and rejuvenate, you will burn out and this will affect your productivity, as well as your physical and mental health. Prioritizing downtime can include a wide range of activities from dedicating a specific amount of time daily to engaging in an activity that you enjoy and find relaxing to spending time in a park or going on a short vacation.

5. Don’t Sacrifice Sleep

With our modern obsession with productivity, we’ve come to regard time spent sleeping as lost time, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Sleep is absolutely vital for mental health, with adequate sleep improving cognitive function, problem-solving, and creativity. The best way to improve your sleep quality and derive these benefits is by following a disciplined sleep schedule and embracing sleep hygiene practices such as reducing screen time before bed and creating a relaxing bedtime routine.

6. Keep A Gratitude Journal

Keeping a journal doesn’t just help you to track your moods and identify patterns of behavior. Studies show that gratitude journaling can also help to improve your mood and cultivate a positive mindset. This involves writing down and reviewing the experiences, people, and other things in your day that bring you happiness and make you feel lucky.

7. Connect With Friends

Social contact is a basic human requirement – after all, we are social animals. The importance of social connections became most apparent when we faced large-scale social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Strong social bonds not only help reduce feelings of loneliness and anxiety but also provide emotional support, which is essential for your mental health and overall well-being.

8. Learn Some Relaxation Techniques

Relaxation techniques or stress reduction tools are simple coping behaviors and exercises that you can use at any time to quickly lower stress levels and overcome anxiety. These tools are useful to deal with everyday stressors at work and at home, requiring little effort or training. They include activities such as deep breathing and meditation, which you can learn from online videos, apps, or a therapist. 

Also read:

How Boxing Helps Teenage Mental Health

Why Gardening Helps Teen Depression

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