Something that often surprises me as a parent is how very draining even the easiest days can be. We run ourselves ragged taking care of everyone else, but often forget to take care of ourselves. It’s much easier said than done, though. Especially when it comes to our mental health. Without even realizing it, negative and destructive thoughts can creep in and make us doubt ourselves. These sorts of thoughts are bad for our wellbeing and make it hard to improve. While being a parent is one of the most rewarding and joyful experiences in the world, it can also tax our mental health. So, in order to keep yourself capable of caring for your loved ones, follow these tips and keep your mind and emotional state healthy.
Get more sleep
This may seem simple, and it may also seem unrelated, but it works wonders when working to improve your mental state. Even if you can function on a small amount of sleep, making sure that you get an adequate amount of sleep will improve your productivity and help your brain make more rational decisions. For most adults, this is about 8 hours of sleep every night. If you are currently getting less than that, make those extra few hours of nightly sleep a priority. Go to bed earlier, condense your morning routine so you can sleep an extra hour, whatever it takes. Those few extra hours will do a world of difference when it comes to your mental state. Check out my Bedtime Routine HERE.
Replace negative statements with positive ones
Without realizing it, every single day, we all say incredibly negative things about ourselves. Even if we never utter a word, we’re saying these things about ourselves, to ourselves. When you tell yourself “I can’t do that”, “I will fail”, “I’m not good at that”, “I don’t look good” or any other negative comment, you’re just solidifying that belief in yourself. It will be a conscious effort to stop saying these things to yourself, because in most cases, these thoughts happen without you realizing. Often, they’re pretty engrained. If you catch yourself thinking something like this, you have to stop and tell yourself something positive to replace it. “I can do this”, “I will succeed”, “I’m good at this”, “I look great”. Saying these things will help your brain believe it, and your quality of life will improve drastically.
Take care of your physical health, too
When we talk about taking care of our mental health, we often forget that our mental health is in conjunction with our physical health. By taking care of one, you’re better able to take care of the other. Getting enough sleep is one of these things. Another, is making sure that you’re getting enough water, enough exercise, and enough vegetables. Although it’s silly sounding, making sure that your physical health is addressed will help you shift your focus to your mental health. And taking care of yourself will make you feel better mentally. This link has some good ideas for physical things that can improve mental health.
Reduce stress
I can feel you laughing at me, as you read those words. Is it even possible to reduce stress? Yes. Is it difficult? Also yes. We often feel that if we aren’t constantly busy, constantly working on something, and constantly stressed, that the world will fall apart around us. Luckily, the truth is that the world will keep on turning if you take a day off to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and ignore your regular daily tasks. Taking a day off isn’t the answer to reducing stress, but it can definitely help. Getting a break will give you the mental strength needed to make better decisions.
Aside from taking a much deserved break, there are some exercises you can do to help you reduce stress. A few ways to reduce your stress include mindful meditation, yoga, and breathing exercises. All of these things require you to consciously make an effort to clear your mind and focus on your mental state.
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