<span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s particularly in times of crises that we tend to rethink our idea of mental and emotional wellbeing. As the pandemic affected our relationships, our freedom to be close and intimate with our loved ones, and our routine, some of our safest comfort zones have been forever altered. Suddenly, when a coffee date with your best friend is out of the question and video calls with your elderly parents are all you can get, those small, but meaningful interactions gain much more significance.</span> <a href="https://womenlove.health/wellness/manage-your-mental-health-throughout-covid-19-with-yoga/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The ability to take a yoga class</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, to attend a dance recital at your kids’ school, or to Zumba your stress away – all your standard healthy coping strategies no longer apply. It’s especially then that you need to find other, equally empowering and healthy mental health boosters. From food, mindfulness meditation, to yoga at home, you can create your own self-care routine focused on your mental wellbeing more than anything else. Here’s what you can incorporate today.</span> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Say no to unhealthy stimulants</span></h2> <img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-125756" src="https://womenlove.health/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Say-no-to-unhealthy-stimulants.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="800" /> <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/4jq0kcF5oDI"><span style="font-weight: 400;">image source</span></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">In addition to taking better care of your diet by </span><a href="https://womenlove.health/health/good-mood-foods-how-what-you-eat-affects-your-energy-and-mental-health/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">introducing healthy, good-mood foods</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, you also need to reduce or eliminate the intake of unhealthy foods and stimulants that can affect your mental health negatively. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">For starters, alcohol, smoking, too much processed sugar, and similar stimulants with zero nutritional value should not be on the menu. These ingredients might give you a momentary sense of relief and satisfaction, but they’ll actually lead to an energy slump rather quickly. Replacing unhealthy, emotional eating patterns with healthy eating will help you elevate your confidence, mood, and sense of wellbeing. </span> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Schedule sleep on a regular basis</span></h2> <img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-125758" src="https://womenlove.health/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Schedule-sleep-on-a-regular-basis.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="791" /> <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/5WA2v95NAjw"><span style="font-weight: 400;">image source</span></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">If you schedule your workouts, start scheduling your sleep, too. Too many people neglect their body’s need to rest and recuperate, which is primarily achieved not just with pure daytime rest, but through regular, consistent, quality sleep. If you suffer from insomnia or you’re restless during the night, chances are you’re feeling exhausted, irritated, and anxious during the day. </span> <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/sleep/art-20048379"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Create a sleeping routine</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that will help you unwind before bedtime. Read a book and conduct a digital detox to slow down your mind and avoid blue light exposure. Take a soothing bath, or add scented candles into your bedroom to create the right atmosphere. Give your body time to prepare for sleep, and try to stick to a routine to make sure your mind gets enough rest. </span> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Feed your mind and your body</span></h2> <img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-125759" src="https://womenlove.health/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Feed-your-mind-and-your-body.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="900" /> <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/7azWfo9_en4"><span style="font-weight: 400;">image source</span></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Healthy food is the pillar of your mental and physical wellbeing. By balancing your micro and macronutrient intake, you help your body balance your hormone production, energy levels, sleep quality, and mood. You can reinforce your nutrition with </span><a href="https://www.designsforhealth.com.au/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">the help of wellness supplements</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that target your mental wellbeing. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">For example, you can improve your sleep with the help of herbal supplements with magnesium and lavender, while vitamin D is a great addition to your meal plan during the colder season when you don’t get enough healthy sun exposure, which can wreak havoc on your mood. </span> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Keep yourself active</span></h2> <img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-125760" src="https://womenlove.health/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Keep-yourself-active.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="842" /> <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/XstqDXWAhmM"><span style="font-weight: 400;">image source</span></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">With or without quarantine, many people find it difficult to </span><a href="https://womenlove.health/health/fitness/how-fitness-can-transform-your-mental-health/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">kick-start a fitness routine</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> – and yet, it’s a vital component of a healthy lifestyle that will contribute to your mental health, not just strength and physical endurance. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Start with something simple, like a bodyweight home workout routine you can follow along on YouTube. Try a fitness app with varied training sessions on offer. Invest in a few fitness tools like a kettlebell or a few resistance bands to add some diversity to your routine. Sometimes, a longer walk with your pooch is all you need, but you do need to be active in order to keep your mental health balanced. </span> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Make time for mindfulness </span></h2> <img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-125761" src="https://womenlove.health/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Make-time-for-mindfulness-.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="900" /> <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/ND1Z0H1j_4w"><span style="font-weight: 400;">image source</span></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">For some, meditation seems obscure and unstructured, thus not all that attractive. For others, it sounds too good to be true. Although guided meditation has a different impact on your wellbeing, you can start </span><a href="https://womenlove.health/travel/kamalaya-finding-peace-in-your-daily-life/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">your own mindful meditation practice</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to calm your thoughts, ground yourself, and start the day with the right mindset. It’s not the be-all, end-all of boosting your mental health, but it’s a wonderful addition to this arsenal of tools you already use. </span> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Journal to understand yourself</span></h2> <img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-125762" src="https://womenlove.health/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Journal-to-understand-yourself.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="800" /> <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/M1w3VBJmtPg"><span style="font-weight: 400;">image source</span></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Writing down what you’re feeling, what thoughts might be causing you worry or stress, and putting your fears on paper gives you a fresh perspective. Studies have shown that </span><a href="https://positivepsychology.com/benefits-of-journaling/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">journaling helps with anxiety and depression</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and it has a tendency to boost mental wellbeing in already healthy adults. It’s a healthy strategy to understand yourself, process your feelings, and gain important insights into potential solutions to your issues.</span> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Don’t be afraid to ask for help</span></h2> <img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-125763" src="https://womenlove.health/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Dont-be-afraid-to-ask-for-help.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="853" /> <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/Wqa9azfPEz8"><span style="font-weight: 400;">image source</span></a> <a href="https://www.talkspace.com/blog/how-to-ask-for-help-mental-health-care/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">You’re not alone</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in this complicated, challenging world of ours. Sometimes, no matter how well you eat, sleep, and train, you might still find yourself struggling. Fortunately, you can find help from online and in-person psychologists, some of whom are prepared to book appointments online and via the phone in case you’re in isolation. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Then again, sometimes all you need is a friendly conversation with a close friend or your spouse to remind yourself of all the incredible things in life to feel grateful for. Support is always a call away, so don’t be afraid to ask for it when you need it. </span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Mental health is as vital as your physical fitness, which is why you need to take your time to discover different, effective best practices you can include in your own life. We’re all different and authentic, which means that sometimes, what a yoga class does for one person, journaling will do for another, and the like. Get creative and keep an open mind, and over time, you’ll have your very own mental health practice that will empower you to be more resilient, grateful, and self-aware in life. </span>
