In today’s stressed world, it is more important than ever to make mental health a priority. Your mental and emotional well-being is just as important as your physical health. One of the best ways to make mental health a priority is to be intentional about engaging in regular self-care activities. Here are five ways that practicing self-care can help your mental health.
1. Feel More Rested
Taking care of yourself will automatically lead to a more restful life. When you slow down and invest in your own well-being, you will find that you put yourself in a better position to get the sleep that you need. Maybe your self-care is putting yourself to bed an hour earlier each night? Or perhaps you want to indulge in that lazy Sunday afternoon nap?
Proper rest naturally translates to a better frame of mind. You cannot expect to enjoy good mental health if you are always tired and sluggish. You may have noticed how everything in life seems a bit better if you are well-rested. Do not make the mistake of thinking that you can simply power through the day on little sleep.
2. Eases Depression and Anxiety
Those who take them time to practice self-care also may see a decrease in depression and anxiety. Activities such as taking a warm bath, listening to soothing music, or practicing yoga or meditation are all popular ways to practice self-care.
Any activity that makes you feel more relaxed can help to reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety and to lift your mood. For example, reiki healing services lean on the practice of energy therapy to heal the body and clear out emotional trauma. This type of therapy is the ultimate in self-care as it helps to ease the debilitating symptoms of depression and anxiety.
3. Boosts Your Physical Health
For many people, self-care comes in the form of physical exercise. Although it may sound counter-intuitive, working up a sweat and tiring your body can actually improve your mental health. This is because exercise releases endorphins that naturally boost the mood and make you feel better.
You do not have to become a gym rat to see the mental health benefits of a regular exercise routine. There are a number of ways that you can improve your mental health through physical activity. Even a long walk around your neighborhood can do wonders for your mood. You will see an even greater benefit if you perform this activity outside in the fresh air.
4. Connects You With Others
Taking the time to connect with others is another way to practice self-care. While it may be a challenge to find this time in your busy schedule, your mental health will benefit if you do not neglect the crucial component of socialization.
Close connections with friends and family are essential for your overall mental and emotional health. The most successful way to cultivate these connections is to be intentional about building meaningful relationships with those in your life. There is no magic number of hours that you should spend with others to see this benefit. The goal is to find the right balance to make you happy. You want the socialization time to enhance your life rather than add another stressful thing to your list of commitments.
5. Boosts Your Self-Esteem
Being diligent about practicing self-care can also boost your self-esteem. You do not need to be a scientist to understand that taking time for yourself and indulging in the things that make you happy may also improve your self-esteem.
Relaxing and taking care of your own needs will help you to see yourself in a more positive light. Before taking care of others, you need to treat yourself with kindness. As your self-esteem improves, you will find that it is easier to handle setbacks and move forward in life. Your mental health will significantly improve as you gain the confidence to tackle life’s challenges.
Once you make these practices a habit, you will likely see that your overall mental health also sees an improvement. Keep in mind that it may take time to see meaningful results, making it important that you stick with the practice of self-care over the long term.
AUTHOR’S BIO:
Maggie graduated from Utah Valley University with a degree in communication and writing. In her spare time, she loves to dance, read, and bake. She also enjoys traveling and scouting out new brunch locations. If you want to add a new option to your self-care journey, try looking into different reiki healing services that will help to better your mental health overall.
