10 Simple Steps To Take Care Of Your Mental Health

Taking care of your mental health should always be a top priority for you! It doesn’t always have to be a visit to your therapist’s office because you can do simple things to keep your mental health in check!

We need to take care of our mental health because if we don’t take the steps to maintain it, we can lose track and at the edge of a mental breakdown. We don’t want to be in a state that leaves us erratic and unable to do our jobs or take care of ourselves!

There are times when everything gets a bit overwhelming, but it might not be that difficult if you take the time to check in with yourself. Here are a few things you can do every day to make sure that you’re dealing with your emotions and not pushing them aside.

1. Talk about it

When things bug you, you need to get it off your chest; the same works for if you’re feeling a bit out of sorts. So talk to someone, a friend, or a family member and let them know how things are going.

If you can’t bring yourself to talk to anyone, maybe write it down, let out all the things you’re feeling, from happiness all the way to sadness. You can also take these notes and dissect them at your next therapy appointment!

2. Stay active

You probably hear it too often, but you need to get some form of exercise; it helps release dopamine, improving your mood. They say the best form of exercise is going out for a walk instead of exercising at home.

That’s probably because you can give up and sit down at home. But once you’ve taken a few steps outside, you still have to turn around and walk all the way back to the car!

3. Eat

If you’re in a depressive episode, maybe too busy with work, you can barely find the time to make food let alone eat anything. But your body needs the food, so take regular breaks and fill up on something delicious; it’ll also boost your energy levels!

4. Hydrate

Maybe you get too busy or just don’t like drinking water because of the taste. Find ways to get your water in, even if it means downloading an app to remind you at regular intervals!

5. Distract yourself

Throughout the day, you need to find something you enjoy so that you can take breaks in the day and go and do it. It can be as simple as crocheting something or pretending your life is a reality TV show!

6. Breathe

Doing breathing exercises when you’re feeling overwhelmed can help you calm down. So just take a moment and pace your breath for a few seconds and calm yourself down.

7. It’s okay not to be okay

You might want everything to be perfect; you might even think that working through your mental illness for months should make you okay by now. But that’s not how it works; it’s okay not to be okay, it takes a long time to work through your issues, and life is out of our control.

Start accepting things as they are and allow yourself not to be okay. You don’t have to stay in an emotional slump, but you should allow yourself a moment, even a day, not to be put together all the time!

8. Clear your mind

You can use techniques from meditation or yoga to help calm your racing mind, but if those don’t work, you can try other methods like adult coloring or even reading a book. A clear mind can help you focus and keeps your mental health in check!

9. Switch it up

Having the same routine every day can be a bit mundane, so you might want to bring some excitement into your life! Staying in your comfort zone can be a bit isolating, so one in a while, switch it up and go somewhere new, take a hike, or even talk to someone you see often!

10. Avoid drugs and alcohol

Using substances to take the edge off can be dangerous and lead to addiction. It actually worsens your depression or anxiety symptoms, so lay off the alcohol and drugs as much as you can.

Remember to always check in with yourself and make sure that you know how you’re feeling to tackle any negative emotions head-on. And if you’re still struggling with your mental health, you might want to check in with your therapist for a much-needed therapy session.