8 Steps To Take Care Of Your Mental Health In 2023
In the first month of 2023, I want to emphasize a very alarming issue — Mental Health. According to the 2021 Mental State of the World report, there is a decline in mental health worldwide in the last decade. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, job loss, financial stress, natural disaster, and various social and political issues mental health is worsening rapidly in recent years. The stressful environment affects our immune system, nervous system, heart, and guts, and so on. The immune system keeps out that which is unhealthy and allows nutrients and vitamins. Similarly, the emotional system allows nurturing and keeps out which is toxic.
Your mental health is the foundation for everything you do. It affects every single aspect of your life.
Today I give you 8 steps for nourishing your mental health.
1. Take care of Physical Health through proper sleep, food habit, and exercise:
Your mind and body are inseparable. Both fuels each other. Nurture your physical health with daily at least 7 hours of sleep, the proper food habits, and a minimum of 30–45 minutes of free-hand exercises at your home. Don’t ignore your health for your career or work pressure.
2. Show Gratitude:
Count the blessings which you got at a difficult time as well as your achievement after fighting with all difficulties. Practicing gratitude is the process of self-reflection. Share your gratitude with the people around you or you can follow a journal if you like.
3. Do whatever you love:
Every day keep some unscheduled time to do whatever you love. Reading a book or listening to music or meditation are effective ways to do relaxation. If meditation isn’t your thing, you can do deep breathing also.
4. Monitor your Screen Time:
Our screen time has drastically increased in recent years. You spend hours scrolling through social media without any reason which badly impacts your mental health. Use social media to do something that brings you joy or relaxation or to get some valuable information.
5. Check your Friendships:
Keep the friends who stand beside you during tough times. In today's era, you can have so many friends. A real friend is one who motivates and supports you. Hold on to that friend.
6. Do not Ignore your Needs:
Most of the time you end up suppressing your own needs to meet others’ expectations or fail to prioritize what matters the most at that time. If you love others by constantly neglecting your own needs and are always afraid of disappointing others, you are creating a quick route to stress and disease in your life. Remember, love is supposed to flow in both directions.
7. Make yourself laugh:
Laughter is the best medicine. When you are feeling stressed, do things that will make you laugh. Watch your favorite movie or TV show with your family which boosts your mood as well as gives you a chance to spend time with your family.
8. Keep an Eye on your Savings:
The job market is changing rapidly after the arrival of Artificial Intelligence. Many renowned companies have started layoffs in the last year. In this scenario, no job is secure. Many people were deeply impacted by layoffs along with their financial stability. You can follow some survival guidelines in case you may face the pain of layoffs.
- Save at least six months' living expenses in advance.
- Keep your resume, and social media profile up to date.
- If you want another job, announce that on social media like LinkedIn.
- Start networking with people who are from the same professional background.
- Don’t break the daily routines — sleep, meals, and exercises — as before.
I think you should follow the above guidelines as a backup for your mental health to avoid any such sudden stress.
World Mental Health Day on the Calendar:
Every year International World Mental Health Day is celebrated on 10th October. Last year the theme of World Mental Health Day was — ‘Make Mental Health & Well-Being for all a Global Priority’.
Mental Health Issues Can Touch Anyone:
The famous American singer and actress Naomi Judd died on 30th April 2022. She died by suicide following a long battle with mental illness PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder) and Bipolar disorder.
Conclusion:
It’s difficult to follow the above steps on daily basis. Whenever you feel stressed, take a pause and spend some time with yourself. Try to follow some small steps to nourish your mental health. Never ignore what your heart says. If you ignore it, your body will tell that in the form of diseases.
NEVER IGNORE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH.
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