Our mental well-being is vitally important yet not talked about as readily as our physical health. Stress is an unavoidable part of life, but how we manage that stress makes all the difference in our long term mental and physical well-being. Are you in tune with the signals your body sends you when your mental health is declining from high levels of stress and being worn out?
If you notice your body sending you physical cues from stress and anxiety, do one small thing that brings you peace and comfort. Practicing self-care is like putting the oxygen mask on. You have to take care of yourself before you care take care of anyone else. Self-care is critical in protecting our energy. Do whatever makes you feel better; take a bath, light a candle, go for a walk, call a friend, take a short nap, read for 30 minutes, or listen to your favorite song. Practicing self-care and protecting your energy also means saying no and setting boundaries.
When we have high levels of stress and anxiety we tend to neglect our relationships and other important aspects of our lives. Our physical bodies take a beating, we tend to eat foods that are less healthy, we tend to have poor sleep habits, and the physical and mental problems continue to compound and spiral downward. Be aware of both your body and mind and try to be gentle with yourself so that you can live long and prosper.
In addition to self-care, you can also reduce stress and improve your mental well-being by getting adequate sleep, eating nutritious well balanced meals, exercising, and meditating. You can also find guided meditations on Headspace.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Please set an intention to be more aware of your own personal mental well-being. Take the time to practice self-care. You save a lot of time and energy preventing illness than trying to comeback from illness.
Peace & Light,
Libby
P.S. To all of our friends who suffer from mental illness our thoughts are with you as we know the struggle is real. We would love to reduce the stigma on mental health. It is so good to talk about it and bring it out into the light. It is an invisible illness and it is difficult for other’s to understand how you feel. To anyone who may need to hear this specific message: if all you did today was breathe, that is O.K. and I am proud of you. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. And finally, Happy Mother’s Day to all of the Mom’s out there~ thank you for all that you do and have done!