Steve & Gina in the Morning

Steve & Gina in the Morning

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Why our Self-Care Routine Should Include A Mental Health Day

Self-care comes in many forms, from a massage to going to bed early when you’re short on rest. But if your self-care routine hasn’t included a mental health day, there are a lot of benefits to taking one. Some call it a wellness day, but the idea is the same - taking a day to do nothing but relax, focus on mental health and feel better at the end of it than you did at the beginning.

A mental health day is like “a vacation for your brain,” and to get the most out of it, there are some steps you may want to include. Dr. Chloe Carmichael says this is how to optimize your mental health day.

  • Make a list of things that make you happy - Do this when you have free time so you have a go-to menu of things to do when you’re feeling down that contribute to better mental health.
  • Start with movement - You don’t have to take a spin class or do an HIIT workout if you don’t enjoy it, just going for a walk or doing yoga works, too. And the endorphin boost you get will make you feel better afterwards, too.
  • Get outside - Just being in the sunlight can make you feel better and spending time in nature can, too.
  • Eat your favorite healthy food - Make it or buy it, whatever makes you happy.
  • Consider a cold shower - Warm water can help you relax, but research shows a chilly rinse is good for your overall health, including reducing anxiety.
  • Connect with someone you care about - Call, text or meet up with a supportive friend or relative.
  • Bring on the self-care - Maybe that involves a face mask, deep cleaning your house, reading for fun or taking a nap, whatever it is that will leave you feeling restored, that’s what you should do.
  • Keep social media use positive - You don’t have to go phone-free for your mental health day, but being intentional with your social media use and doing something positive can only help.
  • Journal - Write down your thoughts, but only if you feel like it.
  • Go to bed early, if you can - A good night’s sleep is just icing on the cake.

Source: Mind Body Green

Photo: Getty Images

A Radiant Woman Wrapped in Her Own Loving Arms

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