Our schedules and responsibilities can be absolutely overwhelming. As a result, it can be all too easy to forget something important from time to time. The likelihood of forgetting things increases when you are experiencing a lot of stress.
If you are dealing with a lot of stress and a mental health challenge—like the various kinds of depression, anxiety or panic disorders, trauma-based disorders, and more—you can easily find yourself forgetting to employ various tactics that support your mental health.
So think of this blog entry as a reminder list—a place to turn when you need to remember what works for you when it comes to shoring up your mental health. Most of these tactics double as stress relievers, too, so you get double the benefit.Â
Let’s dive in.
Remember To Choose Healthy Food
Eating healthy supports your mental and physical health (which are intertwined). The reverse is true as well—meaning that when you are eating less healthily, you are likely undermining your well-being. Leaning into whole foods (rather than processed foods) and making other good choices is always a good idea.
Remember To Get Enough Rest
When you’re stressed as a result of all things on your schedule, it can be tempting to give up some sleep in favor of trying to keep working. But that is actually a self-defeating strategy. When you don’t get enough rest, your productivity declines. Sleep is also central to good physical and mental health, so don’t skip when it comes to rest. Make sure your sleeping space is conducive to getting a good night’s rest and establish a good nighttime routine—including a regular bedtime.Â
Remember To Exercise
Exercise is another thing that often falls by the wayside when you are stressed out and busy. But just like good nutrition and sufficient rest, exercise supports your mental health as well as your physical well-being. A little physical activity—like, for example, a 10-minute walk—can help you reset when you are experiencing stress so that you can get yourself going again. Sticking with your exercise program has all kinds of benefits—and that is true even when you seem impossibly busy.
Remember To Enjoy a Hobby
Here is yet another tactic that can seem like a luxury you can’t afford if you are going to keep up with everything for which you are responsible. But taking the time to engage with something you truly enjoy is a proven stress reduction tactic that supports good mental health. And remember: Your hobby is yours. You should not listen to anyone who thinks your chosen hobby is a waste of time.Â
Remember To Spend Time with Friends
Positive relationships have a positive impact on your mental health. So making the time to grab coffee with a friend or setting up a weekly phone call with a loved one who is far away (or even with someone nearby) or establishing a standing game night among people close to you are the kinds of things that can build and deepen friendships. And those friendships are good for your mental health.
Remember To Practice Mindfulness
Our brains tend to run fairly wild—especially when we are stressed out. Maybe you spend time replaying mistakes from your past. Maybe you are constantly worrying about the future. Maybe you find yourself doing both of those things. Mindfulness practice is all about learning to more frequently keep your thoughts and feelings more in the present moment. That can help you react to challenges more skillfully while also providing mental health support.
Remember To Get the Help You Need
When you are struggling with your mental health, the best thing you can do is to find people who can help. Creekside Behavioral Health—located in Kingsport, Tennessee—provides personalized, evidence-based mental health services for adults and adolescents. We are highly trained mental health professionals with years of experience and a commitment to empathy. We can help those who are experiencing anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and suicidal thoughts. When you are ready to get started, we are ready to help.
