The last two years have been a lot to handle. And while we’re putting the pandemic behind us, many are still feeling the impacts of isolation, changing routines, and the collective loss of normalcy.
That makes Mental Health Awareness Month this May all the more important—taking care of your own mental health is an absolute necessity.
If you’re a remote worker, solopreneur, or busy professional of any kind, we’re curated these tips to maximize your mental wellbeing.
Mental Wellbeing Check-In: How Are You Doing?
We all go through times when our mental health needs some TLC. While not everyone will be diagnosed with a mental health disorder like clinical depression, it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll face a season of increased stress, burnout, or anxiety.
Start with a quick check-in to see how you’re doing. Do any of these signs and symptoms of mental unhealth resonate with you?
- Lack of motivation about things you once cared about.
- Difficulty focusing on work, lagging productivity.
- Feeling tired or unwell.
- Increased confrontation or being argumentative.
- Withdrawing, desire to be by yourself.
If any of these are relatable, consider implementing some of the following tips into your routine to support your mental health!
6 Ways to Care for Your Mental Wellbeing
1. Get back to basics.
Get back to the basics. And by basics, we’re talking about all the things you already know you should try to do, like:
- Sleep at least 7-8 hours a night.
- Eat foods that fuel your body and make you feel good.
- Move your body and get some exercise—even if you can’t spend a lot of time, you can try some easy office exercises to re-energize your workday!
These things are simple, but they’re not always easy, especially with a jam-packed work and personal schedule. So, start small and build tiny habits that add up to big change.
2. Talk it out.
Shutting down negative emotions can be tempting, but it’s not healthy. We all need to get help sometimes, talk things out, and seek counsel when appropriate.
Two options for you are to:
- Confide in a trusted friend or family member: This can be to either vent it out or seek their advice in some area.
- See a professional: Talking to a registered counselor or psychologist is even more important if your emotions are making a significant negative impact on your life.
3. Find a change of scenery.
Because of the pandemic, many of us became familiar with the four walls of our homes. And it can get old after a while. Sometimes a change of scenery is just what you need to shift your mindset, take a break, and get into a positive mindset.
A change of scenery can be big or small. Consider these options:
- Take a walk: When you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed, a great in-the-moment option is to get outside, ideally into nature, to decompress and relax.
- Work somewhere new: If you work from home, consider switching things up by joining a coworking space. There are many benefits to escaping your home office each week, including a boost to your motivation and support from a professional community.
- Go on vacation: Preferably somewhere tropical, new, exciting, or fun! Get out of your city or the country to experience something new.
4. Use work and community resources.
There are so many resources dedicated to mental health and wellbeing. Raising awareness of them is one of the goals of Mental Health Awareness Month! Here are a few ways to find help and tap into resources around you:
- Talk to your company HR representative or your team lead to inquire about company resources or benefits.
- Check out Pima County’s Public Library list of free and low-cost mental health resources.
- If you’re in immediate need, call the Pima County Mental Health Crisis Line.
5. Practice gratitude.
Studies show that gratitude is a powerful way to make you happier. One study found that those who consistently wrote down what they were grateful for over ten weeks were happier, more content with their life, exercised more, and saw the doctor less.
Practice gratitude by:
- Writing down what you are grateful for in the morning before heading out the door.
- Debriefing with your spouse, roommate, or friends about things you are thankful for that happened during your day.
- Use meditation, mindfulness, or prayer to help center you on what you’re grateful for.
6. Ground yourself.
When things seem to be spiraling out of control, it’s important to bring yourself back to the present moment. If you’re anxious and stressed, your body is tense and you’re in a “fight or flight” mode. Ground yourself by taking a moment to pause. Then, identity:
- What can you see around you? Name specific items.
- What can you smell? Hear? Feel? Identify a few things and name them directly.
This practice brings you to the present and gives your body and mind a chance to calm down and reset, so you can approach challenges with clarity.
Adding a sense of calm to your workplace by decluttering and incorporating plants or strategic colors can also help ground you comfortably in your environment.
A personal note
As many of you know, Dan and I went through a lot in the last year or so.
For one, we had both been going through my mom’s passing and his heart surgery on top of all the other stresses of the pandemic. And the main thing that I can say helped us is the fact that we were not isolated at home. Being around others that didn’t mind hearing about what was going on with us helped immensely.
Also, I personally had gone through a terrible point in life wondering if I would ever stop feeling the way that I did. But things truly do pass, and really what got me through it was professional help and focusing on myself.
There are a few things that really helped me personally, including:
- Getting good sleep
- Making a list of what’s overwhelming you and talking it through with someone supportive
- Doing yoga and daily meditation
- Turning on dance music in your living room and having a dance party (believe me, it changes your whole perception and perspective of any negative thoughts running through your mind)
- Ensuring you don’t isolate yourself (seriously, if working from home is not working, do something different and come join us at The Post). I look forward to going to work every day and I honestly don’t know of any other group of people that work in the same space that can be as supportive as our group of members. I may be biased but we have some really awesome members.
Mental Health Awareness Month is not just about posting inspiring quotes on social media. It’s about doing the work to support your own mental wellbeing, prioritizing things that are necessary for you to thrive. Do yourself a solid and spend some time on yourself this month!
If you’re in search of a supportive professional community, you’ll find it at The Post. Get in touch with us today to learn more.