How to Practice Self-Care for Your Mental Health (And Why It Matters)

Self-care is not just a buzzword. It's a way of life that can help you live well and improve both your physical and mental health. Whether you're feeling stressed, anxious, depressed, or just want to boost your mood and energy, self-care can make a big difference.

But what is self-care exactly? And how can you practice it in your daily life?

In this article, we'll explain what self-care means, why it's important for your mental health, and how to practice it with some simple and effective examples.

What Is Self-Care?

Self-care means taking the time to do things that help you care for yourself and optimize your health and happiness. It can also help you cope with difficult emotions or situations and support your treatment and recovery if you have a mental illness.

Self-care is not selfish. It's essential.

You deserve it.

Why Is Self-Care Important for Your Mental Health?

Self-care is important for your mental health because it can help you:

- Reduce stress hormones and promote relaxation

- Boost your mood, energy, and self-esteem

- Improve your memory, concentration, and emotional regulation

- Reduce loneliness, stress, and depression

- Cope with difficult emotions or situations

- Find the best treatment options for your condition

How to Practice Self-Care for Your Mental Health

There are many types of self-care practices that you can try. Here are some easy to access examples:

Meditation, yoga, or deep breathing

These are activities that help you calm your mind, reduce stress hormones, and promote relaxation. You don't need any special equipment or skills to do them. You can try guided meditation apps, online yoga classes, or simple breathing exercises like inhaling for four seconds and exhaling for six seconds.

Exercise, healthy eating, and good sleep

These are habits that help you improve your physical and mental health. Exercise can boost your mood, energy, and self-esteem, aim for 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week (or whatever works for you). Whilst healthy eating, practicing a balanced diet full of fruit and veg, can provide you with essential nutrients and preventing mood swings. And finally, good sleep can improve your memory, concentration, and emotional regulation.

We will follow up with some more journal posts that go into tips and tricks for each activity to help you get the best out of your self-care routine.