Five Ways to Make Your Mental Health a Priority
By Yolande Clark-Jackson
Most will agree their mental health is important, but many take for granted how fragile it can be. It doesn’t take much to throw us off center in the midst of trying to manage daily stress and countless competing priorities each day. Additionally, unprecedented levels of stress and feelings of uncertainty has put the mental health of many under threat. And although we know we should put time into staying both physically and mentally fit, taking care of our mental health is often easier said than done.
But since our overall well-being is determined by the quality of our mental health, it can’t be overlooked. When we prioritize our mental health, we can enjoy a clearer mind, a better sense of self, improved productivity and an increased capacity to manage unexpected change. The best part: Making adjustments to your daily life doesn’t have to be difficult. Mental health experts weigh in to share practical ways to make your mental health your priority:
1. Prioritize Self-Care
Honoring your needs by making time for self-care is crucial for maintaining good mental health. Prioritizing self-care can reduce stress, improve emotional well-being, and increase productivity.
Getting a massage or pampering yourself is often displayed as a way into self-care, but self-care can take many forms. Honoring your needs is also a form of self care. Sometimes this looks like honoring your need to be alone or to be quiet. Other times self care means establishing boundaries. Establishing healthy boundaries helps us maintain positive mental health by preventing burnout and overwhelming feelings. This can involve saying no to commitments that feel too stressful or overwhelming, setting work-life balance boundaries, or prioritizing downtime for ourselves to take a walk for a few minutes to relax and clear the mind.
2. Prioritize Rest
Rest is not only a form of self care, but it is also a way to prioritize your mental health. Geomara Flores is a Marriage and Family Therapy Intern at Ibisanmi Relational Health. She recommends making use of the different kinds of rest to positively impact overall feelings of wellbeing. Here are a few ways you can approach rest:
Stretch or take a nap to engage in physical rest.
Meditate, pray or volunteer your time to engage in spiritual rest.
Spend time alone and avoid stressful situations to engage in emotional rest.
Turn off your phone, devices, and lights or take a social media break to rest and recharge your social battery.
Whichever form of rest you choose, the best way to make it a priority is to put it into your daily schedule.
3. Observe Yourself
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Kachael Stocks, says one practical way people can make their mental health a priority is by practicing observing themselves with curiosity. She says, “Take time each day to take a deep breath and honestly check in on how you are feeling mentally, emotionally, and physically. Check in on how you have treated yourself and your body. This check-in is not to invite criticism or judgment, just awareness and curiosity to how you are actually experiencing your life each day.” Stocks adds understanding your feelings allows you to make small sustainable steps toward change in your daily life and makes you aware of where you should work to find support.
4. Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the practice of being present in the moment and fully engaged in the activity or task at hand. By focusing on the present moment, we can reduce stress and anxiety and improve our overall mental health. Incorporating mindfulness practices such as meditation, deep breathing, or yoga into our daily routine can help us feel more grounded and centered. The National Institute of Health states that mindfulness-based treatments have been shown to reduce anxiety and depression. The newsletter includes findings by Dr. Zev Schuman-Olivier of Harvard University. He states, “For many chronic illnesses, mindfulness meditation seems to improve quality of life and reduce mental health symptoms.”
5. Seek Support
It's important to recognize that we cannot always handle everything on our own. Seeking support from friends, family, or a mental health professional can be extremely helpful in maintaining good mental health. This can involve reaching out for advice, talking through difficult situations, or seeking therapy to work through deeper emotional issues. This may be the most vulnerable step to make, but it could also be the most transformative.
If you want guidance on finding the best ways to help you prioritize your mental health, reach out to us. IRH therapists are trained and skilled professionals who provide a holistic approach to helping you achieve mental wellness.
You can be sure you’ll receive culturally affirming guidance suited for your unique situation. Book a 15-minute consultation here.
