Mental Health Rest Up
Last week, July 1st through July 5th, was mental health rest up week. During this week, we were encouraged to take mental health days from work and to focus on self-care. For those of you who follow my blog and/or podcast, you know that I believe we should be focusing on our mental health every day and having time to rest built into each day. Since we are coming off mental health rest up week, I thought I would offer three things you can do to maintain good mental health.
Know your warning signs or triggers that let you know it is time for you to address mental health concerns, talk to a mental health professional, and give yourself rest. Warning signs or triggers could be things like increased irritability, withdrawing from social interactions, frequent and intense mood swings, change in sleep patterns, responding negatively to certain situations or people to name a few. This list is not exhaustive and may look different for each person, so it is important that you understand your functioning and moods to better understand when warning signs and/or triggers are occurring. Mood tracking is a good way to know and understand your pattern of functioning and moods.
Engage in self-care, ideally each day but a few times out of the week is something to strive for. Engaging in self-care does not have to be something that costs you any money. Self-care is simply those activities or practices that you engage in to take care of yourself and promote overall health and well-being, this includes mental health. Self-care activities can include exercising, meditation, watching a favorite television show, listening to favorite music, journaling, getting a massage, getting a manicure/pedicure, meeting up with friends, engaging in spiritual practices (prayer, church attendance, attending service for your religion/faith), or any other activity you enjoy or that encompasses self-care for you.
Listen to your body. Pay attention to when your body is communicating that it is time to rest and/or needs adequate sleep. Our bodies need anywhere from 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. This can vary based on our age, level of activity, and overall health. When we do not get enough sleep, our mental health can be negatively impacted. It may show up by a lack of concentration or focus, feeling sluggish, and even the foods we choose to eat. Our bodie give us signals when we are not getting enough rest or need more rest. Over the next week, take note of how you and your body feels when you have gotten enough sleep, aiming for 7 to 9 hours each night
Compare this to how you feel when you have not gotten enough sleep. This is going to clue you in to how your body is communicating with you and letting you know what it needs for optimal functioning. We often get caught up in the busyness of life and do not take time to pay attention to what our bodies are telling us it needs. As we strive for optimal health, to include mental health, take a few minutes out of each day to listen to your body and what it is communicating that it needs when it comes to rest.
When it comes to our mental health, getting adequate rest and engaging in self-care helps us to function at our most healthy selves. Take some time each day to engage in activities and practices that support your overall health and well-being. Your mental and physical health will thank you.
Wishing You a Restful Day,
Dr. King
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