Adulting can be hard and taking care of our mental health while juggling a demanding work schedule, friends, and family obligations can seem impossible. We often forget that feeling healthy and being well rested are crucial in order to perform our best. The simple steps below will help guide you into taking care of your mental health.
Creating time to unplug is important for recharging. We feel drained with low morale whenever we neglect taking a couple of minutes for ourselves. Recharging can look like meditation, drinking a cup of coffee, going for a walk, or even something as simple as adhering to a routine. Healthy habits breed success and peace of mind. Practicing any of these activities for even 10 minutes a day allows you to clear your mind and help you feel more in tune with your work!
A good example of unplugging for only a few minutes is meditation. Meditating can be performed anywhere; meditating in the office does not have to be extravagant. Just turn on some zen music and create a peaceful atmosphere. Having a heated blanket with an air purifier are great additions and an amazing way to help you relax and release some stress. If you’ve never tried meditating before, you can access the Headspace app for free as a UGA student for some guided meditations to teach you how to quiet those racing thoughts and just be present. A similar healthy habit can be practicing yoga early in the morning, allowing your mind to get in tune with your body and bringing your day into focus in a slow but purposeful manner. Taking a few minutes to meditate or do yoga will help jumpstart your day in a purposeful direction.
Additionally, maintaining as much normalcy as possible with your daily routine can help lift your mood by reducing the stress and anxiety that come from having an unorganized schedule. It is a great idea to have a notebook where you can mark things off your agenda and visually see the task on paper. This will help you stay on track and feel accomplished as you cross off pending items. Spending time outside also helps to promote higher levels of vitamin D and reduces the stress hormone, cortisol, lifting your mood. In addition to soaking up the sun, spending time in nature can promote both mental and physical fitness..
Lastly, talk with your primary physician about vitamin supplements that might be right for you and make it a point to drink lots of water. The latter may seem obvious but sometimes we get so busy that we forget to hydrate ourselves. In combination with drinking plenty of water, remaining aware about any nutritional imbalances we may have can prevent a lot of future issues. Be sure to ask your primary physician meaningful questions about your vitamin levels and whether taking certain supplements is the right move for you. It is our job to be proactive and take care of our physical and mental health by communicating with ourselves and our medical experts. Hopefully these tips can be a guide in your mental health routine!