Self-Care Tips for Mental Health
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Everyone is going through something.
That’s why it’s so important to take the time to learn and practice self-care tips for mental health, so you can reduce stress, feel happier, and feel more grounded.
Below are 10 self-care ideas you can easily do at home and best of all, it won’t cost you a dime. Video at the end of this post, so be sure to check it out.
Self-Care Tips for Mental Health
1. Mediate, Visualize, or Just Be Still
Sometimes when things get hectic, we feel like we are about to crack. If you ever feel this way, take a few moments to sit or lie down, and take some deep breaths by inhaling in and exhaling out about 20-30 times. You can then either mediate to quiet the mind, visualize, or simply be still.
2. Journal
With so many thoughts running through our heads during the day, concentrating on one thing can be tricky. Plus, our thoughts can affect how we feel, which can put us either in a good or bad mood.
Putting thoughts to paper can help sort out what we’re thinking, but it’s also a great way to help brainstorm solutions to a problem. While it’s good to vent in your journal, do sometimes use the opportunity to write out positive outcomes of what you want.
For example, write out an action plan to tackle a problem, the lifestyle you want to create, a list of the things you’re grateful for, or goals you wish to achieve within the next 1, 3, or 5 years.
3. Have a Cup of Tea
I love making myself a cup of hot tea after a stressful day. I find it very relaxing and it helps to calm me down. Try it! If you are not a tea drinker, you can also make yourself a cup of coffee or hot chocolate.
Then, simply take 10-15 minutes to sit down and relax. Choose to think about nothing while you enjoy your beverage or if you wish, look at a magazine, read a chapter in a book, listen to some inspirational videos, or put on some soft music.
4. Turn Off the News
There is nothing positive to read or listen to in the news. It’s just filled with negativity, racism, mass shootings, crime, political pettiness, and overall sad stories. As a result, the news can deeply affect some people where they feel stressed, anxious, depressed, or worse…afraid to go to populated areas or even outside.
While we all wish to be informed, it’s important to protect our minds and overall well-being.
Therefore, if you find yourself becoming increasingly stressed whenever you watch or read the news, implement this simple self-care tip for mental health by turning off the television or closing your web browser.
If something major happens in the news, you are going to find about it from neighbors, friends, family, or co-workers.
5. Take a Break from Social Media
When looking at social media, it seems like everyone else has more followers or likes, a glamorous life, the perfect family, the perfect body, great hair, they’re making more money, or have nicer cars and homes.
Do understand that a lot of what you see on social media is manufactured to bolster one’s social media pages or online presence. Meaning, the images and posts were planned out well in advanced to create a “cohesive” look, feel, or lifestyle for a celebrity’s, influencer’s, or business’ brand.
Still, studies have shown that social media makes people depressed.
I too have experienced “oh my life is crap” syndrome, but you know what I do? I simply turn off social media and take a break from it for a while.
Although this is sometimes hard for me to do since I’m trying to grow my YouTube channel and blog, and I need to concentrate on building my other social media platforms, when it comes to self-care tips for mental health, how I feel and what I think is more important to me than the number of followers, subscribers, or likes I have.
6. De-Clutter Your Space
If everything around you looks like a mess, you feel like your life is a mess. Therefore, fix your bed in the mornings, always put away the laundry, don’t leave dishes in the sink, organize your desk or workspace, and keep your living room and the rest of your home tidy. A clean space leads to a cleared head and you will feel a lot more relaxed and lighter.
7. Find a Private, Quiet Space
If it’s too noisy in your home, self-care tips for mental health like finding a spot that’s quiet where you can have some time alone can help. The closet or even the bathroom can work; especially if there’s a lack of privacy in your house or apartment.
You can also go sit in your car, but if it’s parked inside a small, enclosed garage, DO NOT turn the car on because you can give yourself carbon monoxide poisoning. Otherwise, simply sit in your car to be alone, or drive and park a couple of blocks away for 15-20 minutes.
Don’t underestimate sitting in your car!
It’s private, there’s nobody to bother you, and parking just a few blocks over from your home can feel like you’re getting away, even if it’s just for 20 minutes.
8. Engage with Others
While having some alone time is great for your mental health, being alone all the time is not. We are social beings and it’s important for our mental health to be interactive and engage with other people.
NO, when I talk about engaging I do not mean “liking” and leaving comments on social media. I’m talking about real, one-on-one genuine social interactions with another person or with a group of people.
Therefore, invite a few friends over for dinner, join a meet-up group, attend a local event in your city, try online dating, or call a friend or loved one.
9. Speak Kindly About Yourself Out Loud
Unfortunately, we can sometimes be really hard on ourselves. Not only that, sometimes we can also say not so nice things about ourselves in our heads. Make it a point to change that by recognizing that you, nor I, are perfect and that we’re all trying to do the best we can with what we have.
Accordingly, instead of calling yourself names, feeling inadequate, or worthless, say positive things to yourself out loud that will help you feel good about who you are.
For instance, a great way to do this is by looking at yourself in a mirror and say:
“I love you”
“I am smart”
“I am a good person”
“I deserve love and happiness.”
While you’re at it, write these words down as affirmations in your journal everyday or whenever you feel like you need a confidence booster.
10. Make Enough Time for Sleep
Lack of sleep can affect your mood and can have negative medical consequences to your health. Plus, when you don’t feel energized, it feels like you’re dragging yourself throughout the day.
A nice self-care tip for mental health that you can do is to prepare a nighttime routine before going to bed. You can even make your own DIY self-care nighttime kit.
An example of a simple routine to do before retiring for the night could be turning off the TV, dimming the lights, avoiding caffeine, putting down your cell phone, and stretching for 10-15 minutes.
If possible, try going to bed around the same time every night and aim for 7-8 hours of sleep. You will feel much more well-rested in the morning and have the energy to get more done during the day.
Music for “Self-Care Tips for Mental Health” Video
Artist: Midnight North
Track: This is a Jazz Space
Genre: Jazz & Blues | Calm
If you like my video “Self-Care Tips for Mental Health,” please be sure to like, share, and subscribe.
Thank you!
-Tanisa
*I wish to be transparent with my readers/views. Some of the links in this post contain affiliate links. If you click on the link and then go on to make a purchase, I will earn a small commission.
