Self-care for your mind

28 self-care tips for a healthy mind

1. Surround yourself with good people who care about you and want the best for you. We all need a support system so good company is essential. I have no idea where I'd be without mine. 
2. Sort out your sleeping pattern, mental health problems worsen when you're exhausted. Do you really want to be overthinking in the middle of the night? If this is something you struggle with then read my blog on how I fixed my sleeping pattern.
3. Exercise, even light exercise such as yoga or walking is enough to keep you healthy, just move your body more, starting with things you enjoy then push yourself further when you're fitter.
4. Use positive affirmations daily. These really set you up for the day as it's like a daily dose of gratitude to keep you going. Sometimes we need a boost so don't be afraid to rewire your brain with CBT or a fun mantra if this isn't available to you.
5. Do something productive everyday, this will give you a sense of accomplishment. It doesn't matter how small, the effect will be the same and it can have a knock ok effect. The more you do, the more you want to do.
6. Make your bed every single morning. This small task motivates you to get the bigger tasks done and reaffirms that the small things matter. (reference Admiral William H. McRaven).
7. Don't use drugs, I've never taken hard drugs and never would because I'm very protective over my mental health. I do believe my drug free lifestyle keeps me sane to an extent, so if you live an edgy life then don't be surprised when the moody effects catch up with you.
8. Avoid drama. If there's drama in your life you either cause it, enable it or entertain it so stop doing that. Chaos is a recipe for poor mental well-being. Choose peace and happiness.
9. Stationary is great for organising your thoughts so journal often, or have a diary and a cute calendar to keep you on track. I'd be all over the place without these tools.
10. Check in with yourself, self-awareness is what keeps me stable so how ar you doing? Be honest, accountable and write it down, it's okay to struggle. Don't enforce the stigma by lying to yourself.
11. Accept you'll have bad days and take the day to rest when you have them, it's okay to have an off day so why not schedule in a lazy day to help you recover or unwind before it even gets to that point? If you don't schedule a day for rest your body will choose one for you. I tend to push myself more on my good days and let myself have the day when I'm not feeling so hot.
12. Get a therapist or a life coach if you need one. If you're struggling a professional could be worth the expense but don't he afraid to be picky! Not every professional you meet will have the exact expertise which align with what you need on a personal level so find one that genuinely helps you. It's only worth the money and time if it works and the wrong therapist for you could prevent you from moving forwards.
13. Go to the doctor for medication when you need it. Don't come off medication without researching and setting standards to keep you well then of course consulting your doctor to ensure that's alright for you to do so 
14. Eat proper food, eat nutritiously and stop eating things that trigger you. I feel like I'm easily affected by things and there is a connection between your gut and your mental health so take care of your stomach.
15. Seek extra support or accommodations at college or uni. Ableism is so ingrained in us that we forget it's okay to ask for what we need. Work smarter not harder and your mind will thank you for it.
16. Keep your life fun and do more of what you love.
17. Follow your passion and if you don't have one keep trying things until you find it. Life's lighter when things aren't forced. Do you love your career? Do you have interests or hobbies? These things matter.
18. Speak to your friends and family more. Don't shut people out or push them away with had behaviour. Being unwell isn't an excuse to treat people like dirt. Your support system are there to give you a boost and have some light hearted fun with. Don't use them as a punching bag or dump on them or vice versa. Stop letting people do this with you or give people unsolicited advice if they didn't ask for it. You get from your life what you put out so if you bring others down then don't be surprised when they give up on you or give you a taste of your own medicine. Be so focussed on your own karma that you don't let anything throw you off balance. Be a good friend and let others be good friends to you.
19. Remove anyone from your life who isn't adding value or worse, brings you down to their level. I've removed many unsupportive people from my life and I can confirm, I haven't lost anything. I've gained peace and a sense of calm. If people are bitter, jealous or nasty then they can't do anything or you and if they don't want the best for you then you need to be realistic. What are their intentions then if they aren't pure? Bad intentions can be found anywhere, don't assume everyone has a good nature just because they're your friend, partner or family member.
20. Don't be afraid to make new friends, we don't make less friends as we age. We just close ourselves off so be open to making new friends and connections. Always remember to he loyal to the ones who have always been there. If they have been through thick and thin with you and stood the test of time then they're a real one.
21. Don't be afraid to take risks, the more you put yourself in the stretch zone, the more you will build up resilience and awareness that you can challenge yourself. 
22. Consume content that inspires you and makes you feel energised. If what you're consuming drains you or makes you upset or negative in any way, it's time to make cut backs or even better stop consuming it altogether if that's what it takes. You are what you eat, well you are what you consume. That goes for what you look at, choose what to believe and engage with. Stop reading rubbish that makes you feel terrible. You aren't always the target audience/reader so it's time to put it down.
23. Be more conscious about where you're investing time, money and energy.
24. Take care of yourself, drink more water. Eat a little more vegetables, take your vitamins. Do your research and experiment with what works for you. Never stop growing or healing.
25. Set goals all year long, make new year's resolutions and don't take life so seriously. Lighten up readers.
26. Do everything you want to do but not at once. Tick something off as you go. My bucket list boosts my quality of life and makes it more exciting for me. I started it when I was 19. I have to pinch myself when I think about how many places I've travelled and the things I've done and I'm only 26. My life is fulfilling because I enrich myself with all these experiences that could keep me going forever. That's what it's all about, when you live a mundane life don't be surprised when you start to have symptoms. Don't waste precious moments in your life. It's your life, you have to live it on your terms. It doesn't have to be perfect but if your choosing as much of it as possible then it's going to be a lot closer to that ideal than settling.
27. Have boundaries. You have to say no from time to time. So, are you people pleasing in your life? Are you agreeing to too much or spreading yourself too thin? You need to have stronger boundaries because people will take advantage of you if you let them. It's up to you to politely or savagely decline those requests. Sometimes our pressure comes from ourselves not others so are you a perfectionist and maybe expecting a bit too much from yourself too soon? Set those standards with yourself as well.
28. Don't put too much pressure on yourself. If you have a goal it's better to chip away at it rather than overload yourself at the last minute.