Xero C.In our busy day-to-day lives, we don’t always get as much time for ourselves as we would like. However, a crowded schedule is no excuse to be neglecting our mental health. After all, how we feel is vitally important; if we feel overwhelmed, stressed, or anxious, we are undoubtedly going to perform at a lower level than we otherwise would. We need to take care of our mental health just as we need to take care of our physical health (and when we are doing both at the same time, that is even better). While it may seem difficult at times to prioritize and make time for your mental health and wellbeing, there are some tried and true methods that I utilize that may help you as well. Here are some strategies to help you make time for mental health.
Use Your Vacation Time
When we have a chance to take some time off, we really should take it. It’s a disservice to ourselves, and our loved ones, when we prioritize work at the cost of everything else. However, despite this, many people neglect to utilize their annual paid time off (PTO). In fact, according to the Pew Research Center, over 45% of American workers do not use all of their PTO each year. While it may be misconstrued as laziness to use your vacation days, it actually makes you a stronger and more productive employee. When we are burned out, we are not capable of getting the same amount of work done each day. Vacations help us prioritize our mental health and become more successful at our jobs when we return, which is why we should always use our PTO.
Get Some Exercise
The easiest way to dedicate more time to mental health is to dedicate time to tasks that contribute to your wellbeing in numerous ways. While physical exercise might not be the first thing you think about when you are considering options to ward off cognitive fatigue and improve your overall mental health, it is definitely an effective method of doing so. According to the Mayo Clinic, exercise can help release endorphins, which are natural chemicals that help your brain feel good. The release of endorphins can help reduce stress and relieve pain, but it can also help take your mind off your daily worries, challenges, and concerns, allowing you to think less about the negativity in your life that fuels depression and anxiety. Some people do not release enough endorphins naturally, so exercise also helps to offset any natural deficits you might have. Best of all, it also greatly benefits your overall physical and bodily health at the same time.
Write a Journal
Keeping a journal is a great way to catalog your daily frustrations, stresses, and challenges. Once we commit our thoughts and obstacles to paper, we are able to truly analyze and breakdown our problems in a constructive way. They no longer seem insurmountable; suddenly, what is presenting an obstacle for our mental health seems defeatable. Best of all, journaling does not have to take long — you can do it for just 10-15 minutes each day — and it is easy to journal just about anywhere.
Embrace Your Friendships
Friendships are good for us. They help us feel like we belong, while making us happier and less stressed out. Our personal connections are some of the strongest links we have, and ones we should cherish and try to strengthen over time. Spending time with friends can help us recuperate mentally after particularly stressful moments and challenges, and can remind us what life is really all about. The stronger our positive connections are, the easier it will be to face all of what life throws at us and come out the other side smiling.
Conclusion
There are plenty of great ways to make time for our own mental health. I recommend you try some of these strategies in your own life, as they can be particularly helpful when it comes to improving your overall perspective and wellbeing. The best time to prioritize your mental health is now, because its benefits are wide-reaching and extremely important. If you are interested in other wellness, lifestyle, or mindfulness topics, make sure to check out our other blogs for more!
