Lifestyle

How To Take Care Of Your Mental Health

Life is hard, but the good news is, you don’t have to figure it all out on your own!

• written by Joy Onu
• 5 min read
• 27 Jun, 2023

The thing about life is that it will give you lemons even if you don’t want it. The trick is to think about that saying, you know the one with lemons and lemonades? We know not everyone cares about lemonade, but all the proverbial quote is trying to say is, when life hands you an unfortunate experience, make the best out of it.

It’s easier said than done, but taking care of your mental health starts one step at a time, and with these few tips on how to take care of your mental health, you have a head start on how to get to where you need to be.

Connect With The People You Love

The one thing you don’t want to do is isolate yourself from the people you love, it’s so easy to hide in your shell as a way of protecting yourself or hiding away, but it is essential to resist the urge to self isolate, especially when you’re already in a pretty dark place.

The thing about isolation is that it feels comforting but it truly isn’t, it only does more damage because you’re giving negative emotions more room to seep in. If you find yourself socially withdrawing from people, especially the ones close to you, try your best to engage with them, even if it's in the littlest ways. 

Talk To Someone 

Do not underestimate the power of talking to someone about the things going on in your head, it is so easy to get lost in all your thoughts and they could easily drown you, talking to someone is almost like taking someone’s hand just so you don’t drown and they pull you out in time.

Not everyone will feel comfortable talking to someone, but it does help. You could talk to a therapist, you could talk to someone you trust, and if you don’t feel comfortable with either of these options, there are so many mental health services you could find online, there are also apps like Sincerely that provide a platform to vent about your problems anonymously and you get a response from people, this will surely help in one way or another.

Channel Positive Thinking

Our thoughts come from places we’ve been and the things we’ve been through, it’s not easy to go through life with a mental scar, or even physical scars caused by incidents and trauma. Sometimes, we allow the things we’ve been through to take control of where we are going, if only we could just remind ourselves of the power we have, then maybe our lives wouldn’t feel so suffocating. 

Each day is a chance for things to get better. I know this is the last thing you need to hear, but staying positive could help you reframe your thinking. You could do this by keeping a journal, taking time out to think about all the things you're grateful for, or just channel all the positives in your life.

Do The Things You Love

There are probably a million little things you love to do, or the things you used to love to do. They might serve as distractions but they get the job done, think of all the things you love to do and make it your mission to do them, they will help you stay busy and if you don’t have the time to do that, just squeeze it into little parts of your day.

This could be watching your favorite TV shows, going out for ice cream, playing a sport you like, reading a book, whatever it is, trusting the process and doing the things you love might just leave you on the brink of doing yourself a world of good.

Go Outside

It’s so easy to hide yourself away from the world by locking yourself up in your room, the comfort is surely unmatched, but it comes tangled strings attached. Staying indoors might just mess with your mind even more, so remember to go out, take in the scenery, whether that’s watching the birds in the sky, or star gazing. The power of the great outdoors is unparalleled, and free.

Turn Down The Pressure, Ditch Social Media

The pressure that comes with life can get a little bit consuming, especially in this day and age. It is so easy to go online and compare your life with the people you see, but all of that needs to end. In no way should you let someone’s life be a negative reflection of yours, remember that comparison is the thief of joy.

Take a break from social media for a while, but you cannot avoid it forever, so the best thing to do is focus on your own journey in life, be happy for people around you, and remember that you’re doing just fine.

Don’t Forget To Breathe

It’s okay to feel angry, sad, disappointed, lonely, and a whole range of emotions. It's okay not to be okay, but it is important to remember to breathe when things get hard and when your anxiety spirals out of control. Try to inhale and exhale, deep breathing is known to help calm the nerves, and finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help.