Take Your Mental Health Care Back to School
We all love September because it gives us that “fresh start” feeling. Even if you’re not heading back into a classroom this fall, the end of summer gives us all an opportunity to assess what’s working, and course correct on the things preventing us from being our best selves. Maybe you have kids that have prevented you from getting the alone time you crave, or it’s just been way too hot to get outside during the daytime to take a break from your workday to get out for a walk. Whatever’s been your challenge recently, read on for some ways you can get a fresh start with your self-care this month!
Assess your evening routine
Even though getting your day off on the right foot is critical, we’ve found that the evening is often the time that needs to be reworked to guarantee a successful morning. That means actually figuring out a bedtime to ensure you get the proper amount of sleep, and working on your sleep hygiene to wind down and make sure you can actually fall asleep at nighttime! Lack of sleep is the culprit behind many mental health issues, particularly anxiety.
Once you’ve got the bedtime routine locked in, you can add in some elements to ensure you have a better morning. Prepare the coffee maker the night before, lay out your clothes, make your lunch, and leave your keys by the door so you don’t have to search for them. This can reduce your morning stress and chaos, especially if there are other people around!
Start your day with a routine
Now that you’ve got your evening rituals finely tuned, let’s talk about your morning. First, consider how much time you actually have to spend in the morning - are you bombarded with children before you even open your eyes? Are you a night owl who would prefer to sleep till 10, or do you actually enjoy the mornings? Maybe you might only have 5 minutes to take to yourself each morning. Then, focus your time on improving your biggest stressors. Maybe you don’t have time to eat breakfast, so spending those 5 minutes making a smoothie so you don’t become hangry might be an improvement.
We have a finite amount of willpower each day, so automating as much of your routine as possible ensures you won’t start off your day on the wrong foot. Decide what habits you want to create to make a better start to your day.
Go easy on yourself
The pandemic has caused colossal disruptions in all of our lives. Whether you’ve gone back to an office, are still working at home, are dealing with mask mandate changes in your children’s school, or if you’ve left the workforce all together, chances are your life looks different than it did in 2019. We are all dealing with the collective trauma of such an abrupt shift, and as the news about COVID-19 continues to change and we have to adjust our behaviors, there is even more weighing in on our mental health each day. We are all expecting a lot out of ourselves while dealing with an unprecedented, uncertain crisis. Some days, it might feel like enough to just make it out of bed, and that is ok.
Get support
Our society is based on principles of individualism and freedom, but human beings are designed to care about and support each other. Find other peers who you can connect with - be it through work, school, church, or shared activities. If you or someone you love is dealing with a challenge, find a support group of folks going through similar issues for healing and likeminded connection.
Most importantly, know when it’s time to reach out for professional help. Our team at Brave is well-equipped to provide a sympathetic ear to whatever you are going through. Contact us today if you are ready to get some additional support!
