May is mental health month. May is such a busy month for many women. We have mother's day coming up and graduations. May should be a month to celebrate but anymore every month is busy and can be overwhelming. I challenge you to take a look at your mental health. I know I certainly have been questioning mine. Let's set aside a little bit of time to focus on us! Awareness is a start and now is a good time to take inventory of our own lives. Many of you out there are mothers, daughters, wives, sisters and the list can go on. Some days we wear too many hats. I know that I personally sport 4 at one time. Gosh! Ugh! My life is just now coming into focus. For many years I was on autopilot like many of you are. Here are some recommendations that we can focus on.
Let's breathe... I used to roll my eyes and would be thinking yeah whatever this crap doesn't work for me. But... I just recently found a new way to incorporate it into my day. Lying in bed, getting ready for lights out take 5 minutes to start your deep breathing. In through your nose out through your mouth. Believe it or not this will relax you for better sleep and rid some of your anxiety.
Journaling is not for everyone but writing your thoughts down helps with anxiety. I have been making notes and lists in the middle of the night since my late 20's. I had no idea journaling would impact my life in such a positive way.The most common type of journaling involves writing down not just a list of one’s daily activities, but also a reflection on the thoughts and emotions that come up during the day. By practicing this technique we "brain dump" which helps ground our thoughts and provide prospective.
Gratitude Checks... give thanks for what your day is providing. I sometimes go out for a walk and I verbally talk to God and my universe. Journaling can be a powerful tool for gratitude checks because you can always come back to see how your thoughts develop over time. These checks will help you to reflect on your day.
Exercise...whatever makes you happy. We do not have time to waste on activities we do not enjoy. As I age, I do not enjoy lifting weights, running, or yoga class. I look for different activities I can do daily and I mix it up. My new routine looks somewhat like this: 1 mile walk daily with the dog, 10 minutes of stretching twice a week, 10 to 15 minutes of weights twice a week. I do not stress as much as I used to about working out. I have realized in my 50's I need to focus on what I enjoy not what the health guidelines dictate.
Food...One of the most important factors that also contributes to mental health issues is what we put in our mouths! I am absolutely not perfect. I had cake and ice cream for dinner last night. Am I going to beat myself up for the next few days like I once did? Heck no! Life is too dang short! I want to enjoy myself, but with that being said I need to concentrate on better food choices the next few days. Fruit, salad, chicken, steak and limit my sugar intake, this will be my focus.
Remember we must Practice, Practice and Practice. None of us are good at change. Immediate results are unrealistic and we have to take things slowly if we want to make improvements. I will not lie, some days I am better at focusing on my mental, physical, and spiritual health than others. Some days I have attitude, negativity, and melt downs but I have learned it's just temporary and I can restart my day at anytime and as many times as I want. Being positive and good to yourself is a choice! I want you to be good to yourself. I am here you cheer you on!!
Until next time.....
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