After suffering a traumatic brain injury near the end of 2023, I entered a time of intense mental health challenges. The information below provides insight into what I learned that helped me to heal and improve my mental health and well-being. Show yourself some love daily by giving it the self-care listed below.
Get Enough Sleep
What do we most often say when a baby gets cranky? We say they need a nap! It’s the same with humans of all ages. If we get a good night’s sleep, we are more likely to wake up refreshed, feeling good, and ready for the day. Good self-care is prioritizing our sleeping time to ward off mental health issues. It may not fully fix them, but it will certainly help us cope better.
Make Your Bed
Sometimes, you just need an easy “win.” Accomplishment, no matter how small, makes us feel good. It only takes a couple of minutes to make your bed. Voila!
Drink Plenty of Water
Stay hydrated. This is the main thing you can do for your overall health. Studies show that your mood is enhanced the more water you drink, and dehydration can contribute to higher anxiety and depression. Drinking plenty of water can also aid in weight loss. Alternatively, being dehydrated can fight against losing weight, at times it can even contribute to weight gain.
Exercise
By exercising, you naturally balance the chemicals in your body, which improves your mental health and overall mood. It also helps with your physical health. The better we feel about our bodies, the better we feel in general. “Motion is lotion” is a quote to remember to convince your mind to exercise your body!
Eat Healthy Foods
I call it “good mood food.” Fill your body with tuna, dark chocolate, berries, lentils, etc., and you’ll have a better disposition. Don’t believe me? Try it! Even peeling and eating an orange has mood-enhancing qualities.
Spend Time Outdoors
Don’t overlook the simplicity of spending time outdoors and its calming effect. Â On sunny days you can even naturally increase serotonin levels which makes you feel happier.
Pursue a Hobby
After my accident, in which I sustained a brain injury, my speech therapist encouraged me to pursue a hobby to improve my mental health. So, I set time aside to paint. Painting is a hobby that I enjoy, but I never seem to have the time for it. However, when my body demanded it, I had no choice but to listen. Since then, I have carved out time in my busy schedule to paint.
Spend Quality Time with Friends or Family
Spending time with those you love gives you a connection with other people. Isolation is what we usually want to do when we are feeling mentally weak, but interaction is what we really need.
Encourage Yourself
Many people have low self-esteem in our world today. We can overcome our negative feelings about ourselves in several ways, but the most important is to eliminate degrading talk and be our own encourager. It might sound silly, but if we practice saying nice things about who we are, it can build up our confidence.
Write an Encouraging Note
Mental health focuses inwardly. Sending a note of encouragement forces you to think about someone else. Gratefulness is a powerful, positive emotion. Use it to improve your outlook on life, increasing positivity. That will in turn elevate your mood, improving your mental health.
If you commit to doing these things daily, you will see an improvement in your overall mental health. I’ve experienced it firsthand. And don’t forget, if you need help, reach out!
