5 Self-Care Habits To Improve Your Mental Health

To keep you happy and healthy!

Self-care relates to how you look after yourself mentally, physically and emotionally, in a way that activates and supports your best self.

It’s about giving your mind and body what it needs to thrive and succeed.

Good self-care can improve your mood and emotional well-being, reduce anxiety and enable relationships to flourish.

If you don’t take time out to look after you, your mental health may suffer, leaving you feeling depleted and drained.

Learn self-care habits to improve your mental health to keep you happy and healthy.

There are different types of self-care practices, including:

Physical: Eating a healthy and balanced diet, doing regular exercise, having a good sleep routine and doing activities you enjoy.

Emotional: Recognising and acknowledging your feelings, being more self-aware, talking about your emotions and getting support when you need it.

Psychological: Taking time out to relax and reflect, talking to others about what’s on your mind, setting boundaries and knowing it’s ok to say “no” sometimes.

Relationships: Making time to socialise and hang out with friends and family, letting go of toxic relationships and finding time to form new friendships.

Workplace: Taking lunch breaks away from your desk, balancing your workload, professional development training and getting support from work colleagues.

 Spiritual: Practicing mindfulness and gratitude, daily meditation and relaxing through yoga.

Self-care habits for mental health

#1 – Create a daily ritual

Having a daily ritual creates a bit of excitement in your day, something for you to look forward to. It could be going for a walk and listening to a podcast, taking time to stretch your body or some morning meditation.

#2 – Carve out “me” time

This is a hard one for most people as life is busy. Setting some time aside each day just for you is so important for your mental health. It doesn’t have to be long, even ten or fifteen minutes would suffice.

#3 – Set goals

Setting short-term, achievable goals is very beneficial for your mental health. It motivates and engages you, giving you something to work towards. The feeling of accomplishment when you reach a goal boosts your mood and morale.

 #4 – Plan your week

This is an important one as it helps to keep you focussed and on track. If you know what you’re doing and when, it removes unnecessary stress and anxiety, which can be a challenge in times of low mood. Plan your meals, your activities and most importantly, your “me” time.

 #5 – Keep a journal

Having a journal is a great way to log how you’re feeling and learn about yourself. It also helps to keep you motivated and remind you of all the things you’ve accomplished.