May 25th, 2021
I am over all the rain and thinking about building an ark. I hope y’all are staying healthy and happy! I am staying busy with all things work and sneaking in a few hours of self-care in the form journaling every morning and making healthy eating choices. Mental health is a pretty heavy topic, but I will do my best to keep it light and provide helpful and practical tips to maintain good mental health each week this month. Maintaining good mental health is a vital component to self-care. So far this month we have identified what good mental health looks like, how to recognize problems in others as well as yourself and discussed how to improve and maintain good mental health. This week will look at ways to change your mindset and develop a routine to maintain good mental health. Today’s post might seem a little scattered because I am going to be throwing several resources at you. Buckle up because here we go!
First let’s talk about mindset. Having a positive mindset does not mean everything is sunshine, roses and unicorns, but instead it means having a positive outlook for the direction of your life and making positive thoughts a habit and your go-to thought pattern. This does not happen overnight, but you can change your outlook by focusing on positive outcomes and the silver lining in all situations. When you first begin this process, you will not immediately recognize the silver lining but the more often you practice it, the more it will become a reflex for you. For more information, I recommend visiting www.positivepsychology.com.
To create your routine and develop/maintain good mental health, you need to make sure you are in good physical health. This includes exercising, eating a nourishing diet that is free from toxins and staying hydrated. Exercising gives you a way to literally work through your problems and exert energy. Giving your body the nourishment it needs helps to balance the body. Staying hydrated ensures that your body systems are functioning at the optimum level for success. Please contact your doctor, a health coach, a trainer and/or dietitian for further assistance in these areas to make sure each is tailored to your specific needs.
According to Psychology Today, a study found that healthy sleep cycles are associated with better mental health. Shocking, I know! You may be asking how you can develop a healthy sleep cycle. Try an active daytime routine instead of an active nighttime routine. Uninterrupted sleep cycles also help maintain good mental health. For help with your sleep routine, check out www.sleepfoundation.com or www.heart.org and search sleep routine.
Whether this is your first time reading my blog, or you are a loyal subscriber, I am so glad you tuned in this week! Do you have a friend or family member that could benefit from this blog? Tell them to subscribe!
Have a blessed week ~ Lacey