Self-care essentials for your mental health

Photo Credit: Unsplash
Guest article by Brad Krause

You see a lot about it online, but what is self-care, really? Well, if you’ve been thinking that it’s a luxury, you could be putting your mental well-being at risk. That’s because a few tried and true self-care routines are actually essential for managing your health and happiness. Not 100% sure where to start with building your own self-care habits? You can find plenty of resources to help on Tony Palermo’s website, but here are a few self-care basics you can use to take control of your mental health and your life today.
 
Support
 
It sounds counter-intuitive but figuring out how to best care for your mental health can be pretty tricky. After all, our society tends to encourage us to look after others first. However, you can’t do so properly when you’re running on an empty tank. If you want to start making yourself a priority, it can help to have the support of empathetic professionals.
 
Regular counseling is a good place to start, and these services may be covered under your insurance plan, including Medicare Part B. Check with your insurance provider or Medicare agent to confirm coverage and then go over your policy every year so you’ll be aware of any changes. Need a little more guidance and support? Life coaching services from Tony Palermo can help you break free from feelings of overwhelm and help you gain control over your personal or professional life.
 
Positivity
 
Think that you control your thoughts? As it turns out, it tends to be the other way around with your thoughts influencing your daily actions and moods. If you want to bring more positivity into your life, changing the way you think is one of the most effective ways to do so. It can take some practice, but when you think positively, you’re more likely to feel positive and confident.
 
Self-care is a wonderful way to begin retraining your brain for positivity. When you spend time taking care of yourself with exercise, diet, and healthy hobbies, you’re bound to begin feeling more balanced. Dancing, gardening, and crafting are all good ways to cultivate happiness.
 
Connection
 
By now you know the benefits of having the right professional support, but it’s also crucial for you to have support from your circle of loved ones. Humans are hardwired for social connection. We crave love and support from the people around us, so try to nurture the positive and supportive relationships you have to maintain your mental health and well-being.
 
Part of cultivating positive connections also involves letting go of negative ones. Each person in your life brings their own brand of energy to the table. If you’re constantly allowing those with negative energy into your space, you may find staying positive more difficult. Wondering why that is? The answer is that emotions are contagious, so surround yourself with positive ones.
 
Mindfulness
 
Think about the last time you took a break and tried to relax. Was your mind filled with thoughts that you found difficult to turn off? That’s not uncommon, but it is a cycle that you can break by being more mindful. Mindfulness is a self-care tool you can use to retrain your brain to stay in the moment. As you practice more mindfulness, you’ll eventually feel calmer and more at peace.
 
Meditation is one of the most recommended methods for tapping into more mindfulness. You can start with just a few minutes each day and then build your practice from there. If you need some guidance to begin meditating, you can also look for apps to help retrain your thoughts.
 
Self-care isn’t optional if you want to stay in control of your mental health, but it also doesn’t have to be complicated. With a few basic self-care steps, you can improve your thoughts and manifest a better life for yourself. Because at the end of the day, you control your quality of life. You can also start controlling the way you think and feel for more health and happiness.  
 
Want to take your mental wellness further? Download Tony’s book, Positive Thoughts Will Change Your Life!
 

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