In honor of May as Mental Health Awareness month, we’d like to take time to talk about self-care and mental wellness. As much as we would all like to be powerhouses of productivity, it’s important to break away from the daily grind to find time for yourself to relax. These little moments of self-care are an excellent time to appreciate what you have and enjoy while reflecting on the things in your life you’d still like to change. While it’s easy to neglect self-care in order to follow other pursuits, there are a few easy ways to take care of your mental health so that you’re set up for success.
Exercise However You Like
Regular exercise has been shown to have a positive impact on your mental and physical health. Even just 30 minutes of walking a day can be enough to have a lasting effect on your mood. But the best kind of exercise is the one that you're most likely to stick to, so feel free to find something that you really enjoy. Whether you're doing hip hop dance classes, going for hikes with a friend, or swimming laps at your local rec center, exercise gets your endorphins going and helps balance out your life.
Eat Healthy, Live Healthy
The way we feed ourselves plays a large part in our mental state. While sugary snacks and countless cups of coffee can offer us a temporary boost, they often lower our overall mental wellbeing by contributing to feelings of anxiety and depression. Try and focus on eating healthy meals at regular intervals to nourish your body without feeling deprived. This doesn't mean cutting out all of your favorite snacks, but rather finding nutritious variations wherever possible and enjoying them in moderation.
Find Relaxing Hobbies
Boredom can be a catalyst for stress, anxiety, and restlessness. Sometimes the best way to fill your downtime is with a simple and pleasant activity that helps stimulate you in a way that doesn't cost you anything. Some of these hobbies may include physical activities like fishing or hiking, while others might be more leisurely like painting or photography. Try and carve out time on a regular basis for these and other relaxing hobbies that can help fill your time in a way that leaves you feeling fulfilled.
Embrace Gratitude
One of the most interesting things about mental health is that so much of our mood is a matter of perspective. By focusing on positivity and practicing gratitude on a regular basis, we train ourselves to see the good things in life instead of just the bad. Make a gratitude list at the end of the day, choosing specific things that you were grateful for throughout the day. It doesn't matter how big or how small - even your morning cup of coffee can be a source of joy and gratitude. Consider sharing your gratitude list with a group chat of close friends to allow everyone's gratitude to be a source of daily encouragement.
Live A Happy, Organized Life
Organizing helps clear the mindset, reducing stress and both physical and mental clutter. The rest of the week can feel easier when your environment is clean, allowing you to live a happy, organized life. Give everything in your home a proper place, preferably keeping things like papers and cables either neatly organized or out of sight.
A cable holder like the Cable Station Pro can organize the cables for all your different home entertainment systems and media devices. Or, if you're looking to organize cables in a bag to keep them out of sight until you need them, the Q Knot is a reusable, multipurpose tie that will allow you to condense power cords when not in use. Lastly, the In-box under desk organizer is a great way to hide and store power strips and messy cables. The cable management box will keep them hidden and neatly organized while allowing easy access whenever you need.
Self-care isn't a one-time thing. As mental health awareness becomes more widely discussed, the importance of regular self-care is becoming more and more apparent. Follow these tips to improve your mental wellness and live a happy, organized life.
