Mental Health Day is an important time to recognize that mental health is a real issue and that we deal with it on a daily basis. In the fast-paced world we live in, it can be difficult to prioritize some of your needs.
Today, everyone will be observing Mental Health Day to see the importance of practicing kind words and more so with ourselves. In this article, I’ll outline three important self-help practices to better the way you might go about your daily life.
Get enough sleep for better mental health
While sleep is a frequent topic of discussion in mental health, this is important in order to feel energized, to think properly, and to regulate your emotions well. Ever had a day when you didn’t sleep well and didn’t feel good? Well, sleep plays a pivotal role in how our body feels so it’s important to give it rest when it needs it.
According to the Mental Health Foundation, humans need at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep per day in order to function properly, as well as reach deep sleep or a state of dreaming. When we do not get enough sleep, we tend to feel agitated and may not be able to carry our day-to-day activities out well.
Plan things to look forward to
Since everyone tends to have a lot on their plate on a daily basis. It’s important to find time to do things that you love. More importantly, being surrounded by nature is a good way to lift spirits and be aware of your surroundings by listening to the birds or the wind through the trees.
When it comes to doing things that you love, it’s important to plan activities for yourself. Whether this takes the form of getting a coffee with a friend, buying your favorite food, or perhaps just taking a hike will allow you to feel a sense of purpose. So, it’s important to plan things so that we don’t fall into a trap of isolation.
Avoid making impulsive decisions
When we feel angry, sad, or frustrated, things can easily escalate when we make decisions based on our feelings. During this time, we may turn to food, and alcohol, and even make irrational decisions about the current situation we may be in.
At a time we may feel any of these emotions, it’s essential not to act on these emotions. As we may begin to start a habit that can be hard to let go of once repeated time after time.
To make good decisions, we need to be mindful of what we’re feeling and why we’re feeling in that particular way. So that we can find a solution and deal with the problem instead of suppressing it with food, drinking alcohol, and lashing out at someone at the moment.