May is Mental Health Awareness Month, what a great time to start making some changes in your own mental health care! Below are 8 quick tips that you can try out this month to get you more mentally fit.

Disclaimer: Blogs are a great place to get helpful information but they should never replace mental healthcare and this blog is no exception. These blog posts do not replace mental heath care and are not medical advice.

1. Practice self-care

Take care of your physical needs by eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and taking time for yourself.

2. Stay connected with others

Social support is important for mental health. Connect with friends, family, or community groups. Connect in-person when you can. In-person connections help us stay in-tune with other people and their energy, which may help to improve your mood and wellbeing.

3. Practice mindfulness

Mindfulness doesn’t have to be about practicing yoga or meditation. Mindfulness is about concentration and focus on a specific thing, while acknowledging distractions, but ignoring them. For example, concentrating on a process, like how you’re breathing or how your body is moving is also mindfulness.

(It really should just be called awareness practice.) Mindfulness practices can help you to become more aware of your thoughts and feelings and manage stress. Mindfulness exercises can be found on apps like Sleep Cycle and Headspace. I personally enjoy sleep cycle.

As a mom of a toddler and a newborn (coming any day now) I’ve found Sleep Cycle to be a vital tool in helping me regulate my sleep after and during different developmental stages of my toddler (like breastfeeding, random late-night awakenings, dealing with sickness, potty training, etc.) On nights when my brain won’t shut-off, I listen to one of their audio pieces.

4. Challenge negative thoughts

Identify negative self-talk and challenge it with positive and realistic thoughts. For more information on how to do this, visit my earlier blog post on 3 Quick Tips to Stop Negative Thoughts.

5. Seek professional help

If you are struggling with mental health issues, don't hesitate to seek professional help from a mental health professional.

6. Engage in activities that bring you joy

Doing things that you enjoy can boost your mood and help you to feel more fulfilled. This can be as small as grabbing a taco from your favorite taco truck or sitting out in the sun to get some vitamin D.

7. Set goals for yourself

Setting achievable goals can help you to feel a sense of purpose and accomplishment. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, setting small, achievable goals can help you feel better. I like to make a daily list and check things off as I go throughout the day so that I can see how much I’ve accomplished at the end of the day. This also helps me to remember what I need to do throughout the day.

8. Limit your exposure to negative news or social media

Constant exposure to negative news or social media can impact your mental health, so try to limit your exposure. Using the screen time feature on your iphone to remind you when you’ve been on an app for too long can help with this.

Remember that improving your mental health is a journey, and it takes time and effort. Start small and gradually build healthy habits into your routine.

Talk to you soon,

Carmelita

8 Ways to Improve Your Mental Health