Let’s take a minute to talk about mental health.
For years it has been something viewed as bed or wrong, and held a very strong negative stigma. The view on mental health has always been that those who identify with it are believed to be dangerous, crazy, or not well. This often leads to discrimination, mistreatment, and a false placement that the individual is responsible for the mental health issues they may have.
And it is because of this negative stigma that mental health has never been taken seriously, or has had the necessary resources available for those suffering from mental health to be able to properly care for it. Flash forward to 2024 and we are seeing the general public embrace and view mental health in a much different way.
There are more resources available for people to access (still not necessarily affordable, but it’s a step in the right direction), and more individuals who are openly sharing their mental health struggles in hopes of helping others. There are also various mental health seminars and events that happen around the world to continue to bring awareness to this issue, and provide resources to help treat various mental health disorders.
And of course, there are tons of holistic and complementary and alternative medicine therapies, like herbal, meditation, and mindfulness, available for those who may not want to take the more traditional route of caring for their mental health.
To be honest I am of the belief that there is no right or wrong way to care for your mental health, so long as you are caring for it in an ethically, consistent, and effective way. Which is why I wanted to share with you some ways that you can stay mentally well all year round.
5 Ways To Stay Mentally Well
While I do not have all the answers to the best practices to help you stay mentally well, I do have a few tricks up my sleeve that have been personally transforming for me over the years. I also want to note that you do not need to have a mental disorder or struggle with mental health in any way to be able to put these wellness tips into practice.
In fact, you can be as “normal” as they come and still experience a huge number of benefits from these wellness tips. Like everything here on the blog, the information provided is simply meant to be a guide to help you engage in self-care to ensure you are taking care of yourself to the best of your ability. Now let’s get into it.
1. Add movement to your day
Of course this was #1, right?! It’s no secret that I love light daily exercise and hot yoga as a means to take care of my physical health. While you of course do not have to engage in either of these practices, I do believe that getting some kind of movement in your day does wonders for your mental health. And yes, I’m talking about more than just walking to and from your car, or walking around at work, or any other general daily activities that you engage in that require you to walk.
You need to carve out space and time in your day where you can commit to at least an hour of movement for your body. Some ideas include going on a hike, an extended dog walk, riding a bike, participating in a cycling class, taking boxing classes, walking on the treadmill, doing the steppers at the gym, or even doing some water aerobics.
Whatever interests you the most as a physical activity that you would like to engage in, do it. While I do highly suggest an hour, I also acknowledge 30 minutes of physical activity as sufficient. Especially if this is a new daily practice for you. Just try to be physically active for longer than 10 minutes a day if you really want to experience the mental (and physical) health benefits.
2. Fuel your body properly
As the old famous saying goes, “you are what you eat”, and believe it or not there is a lot of truth to it. I’m no stranger to putting all the unhealthy things you can think of into my body. From soda, to various kinds of junk food, and tons of fried food, I grew up living off of a very unhealthy diet. When you’re younger you don’t see, sometimes feel, and definitely don’t think about all the negative repercussions this type of diet will have on you. I most certainly didn’t.
It wasn’t until I started to increase my daily physical activity when I began to realize how much strength and energy I lacked because of my diet. And not just with my physical strength and energy. My diet was slowing me down in a lot of ways. I was constantly fatigued, constantly struggled with brain fog, constantly sick with something, I could never get my skin to be 100% clear of acne, constantly constipated, my hair was not as healthy as it should have been, and of course I struggled with my weight.
All of this greatly impacted my ability to be as strong both physically and mentally and I wanted to be.
When I started to take my diet more seriously, I started to see positive changes in my overall health. I replaced fired foods with baked foods, cut down significantly on the amount of red meat I ate, eliminated soda from my diet and replaced it with a gallon of water a day, got rid of the junk food and replaced it with more fruits and vegetables, and cut down my overall sugar intake (I do love sweets). And yes, doing all of this allowed me to experience the opposite effect of all those negative side effects I mentioned earlier.
And as a result of that I am much stronger in mind and body and am able to participate in more activities that I enjoy to help keep myself mentally well. So don’t let something as simple as what you put into your body be a reason you overlook how much of an impact it may actually be having on your overall well-being.
3. Keep your nervous system calm
This is something we all don’t think too much about. Seriously, what comes to mind when you hear the term “nervous system”? If you’re like me then you probably instantly think about the connection between the brain and the body and how they send messages back and forth to one another in order for our bodies to function properly. And you’re not wrong but, when it comes to being mentally well there is so much more you have to take into consideration when thinking about the nervous system.
The nervous system is the storehouse for all things related to our learning abilities, memories, senses, and yes, the overall function of our body such as regulating our heartbeat and breathing patterns. The nervous system also tells us when there is a disconnect between the mind and the body and keeping it well. This often shows up through us experiencing stress, trauma, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, infection, and fatigue.
Being able to tune into your body and understand the difference between a dysregulated and regulated nervous system is the ultimate key to practicing good mental health habits. Our bodies tell us so much about the state of our overall health. From the type of environments, we surround ourselves in, to the type of people we interact with on a daily basis. If you can learn how to truly be connected with yourself mind, body, and spirit, you can learn all the best practices to help keep your nervous system calm.
My number one tip for regulating your nervous system? Practice mindful meditation daily.
4. Dedicate a space to healing
This may sound silly, and I know this because I thought so too when it was first suggested to me, but find that one space that is only allowed for healing time. This can be a specific spot on the couch, a specific place in your bedroom, or even a specific room in your home. It really doesn’t matter as long as you are able to claim a space as your own and somewhere you go to when you need to take a break, reset, and recharge. Just make sure it is something that you can easily access. That way, when you actually need it, you can use it.
5. Have a safe and positive outlet
Last but not least just have someone that you can talk to. The biggest part of being mentally well is understanding the power that our thoughts can have over us. Your mind is so powerful and it can either help build you and your life significantly, or completely destroy you if you allow it to. One way to keep it clear, strong, and in balance is to be able to talk through all your thoughts with someone. The good and the bad.
Now, I’m not going to tell you to get a therapist to accomplish this but I will encourage it. The main reason is because everything you discuss with that therapist is 100% confidential so you never have to worry about hurting anyone’s feelings with your words. But I am also a realist in the sense of understanding that such a resource is not available to everyone. And that’s ok.
Just have someone in your life that you can trust completely to not judge you for your thoughts, and you know will always help you work through what you are thinking and how it is making you feel. This can be your mom/dad, best friend, longtime co-worker, a trusted ex-partner (within good reason), or even your pastor. It literally does not matter who. All that matters is that you trust this person to hear you out completely and free of judgment, and to not try to fix your thoughts but more so show us as a support system for you.
Let me know if you will be trying out any of these wellness practices. And I’d also love to know what you do to stay mentally well! Until next time loves.
Love and Light,
Kimora