7 Tips for Mental Health Awareness Month
The evolutionary challenges created from rapid population growth and non-stop innovation have left many humans struggling to find peace in everyday life. In addition, living through a global pandemic has only exacerbated the mental health crisis; check out the stats here.
This mental health awareness month, commit to taking time to look inward and help yourself on the journey of experience more peace, joy, and contentment in life. Here are some simple tips to help get you out of the darkness and into the light.
Embrace Reality:
We often get caught up in what the future will look like or when life will get back to normal. Remember, the moment we are in is our reality, and it's what we do with this moment that matters. Find the opportunity for growth in every life experience.
If you find yourself starting to complain, don't feed into the unaccepting thoughts generated from your mind, but rather rise above them and identify one way this unpleasant life experience is helping you to grow stronger as a human.
Leave the Feed:
Most humans are in denial over their addiction to social media and the havoc it plays on their minds through and edibles steam of life comparisons and materialistic wants. Create dedicated times throughout the day to leave the feed and take time to reconnect with yourself.
Also, when connecting with others in the natural, physical environment, don't rely on your phone as a crutch to help tell stories, as looking for pictures only becomes a distraction. Instead, turn off your phone in the presence of others to form real, meaningful connections.
Meditate Without Tech:
Don't make meditation complicated; find a quiet place to relax, control your breathing and let go of thoughts as they arise. Meditation apps may be helpful to you at first to learn but remember that your phone is a stress trigger.
Go outside without your phone, and reconnect with nature. You don't need to go to national parks to be inspired by nature; chances are there are plants, gardens and animals right outside your backdoor or a short drive away that are available to visit.
Express Gratitude:
Countless wonders go underappreciated as the result of living in a 24/7 materialistic world. Make a daily habit of taking time to give thanks to the people and experiences that have positively impact your life.
Some people like to write in a gratitude journal before they go to bed, which is excellent, but remember to express gratitude in the present moment too. To help ritualize gratitude, make a habit of giving thanks at breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Seek Growth:
The best part about being human is that we have the opportunity to take an active role in our evolution. Remember that slight improvement about to significant changes. Set a goal for personal development and stick to it.
Please don't make it a 30, 60, or 90-day challenge. Instead, make a lifelong commitment to what you want to change and create daily, weekly, and monthly plans for small and large achievements. Don't give up after a setback; change is always possible.
Find Guidance:
Whatever you feel is holding you back in life can be overcome, but that does not mean you should or have to do it alone. Have the courage to seek professional support if you need it; it will be seen by others as a sign of bravery and deeply admired.
Right now, finding guidance can be a challenge as the pandemic has tapped out mental health resources. But, don't stop searching for help and connect with others in your close network that may be able to help point you in the right direction.
Check-in on Others:
It's easy to get caught up in ourselves without realizing there are people in our inner circle for friends and family that could be suffering. Take time to have empathy for those in your life facing challenges and have the compassion to show support.
It isn't easy to be everything to everybody. So make sure to give the ones you care about focused attention, even if that person is yourself.
Let's create a healthier mental future for all of humanity.