How to look after your mental health...

May is #mentalhealthawarenessmonth and as a health coach, I wanted to share some tips.

It is important to remember that?#mentalhealth ?like physical health, is a work in progress, and that being mentally healthy means accepting both our positive and negative emotions.

Mental health is complex and has many components, that range from your daily habits and self-care routine, your social support network, how you deal with emotions, physical health, family history, financial wellness, and even your genetics.

And much more than that.

But regardless of your individual situation, there is what I call some "grounding work" that can be done, and that is fundamental to establishing both a mental and physical self-care routine.

Understand your true needs and values

This is the first and foremost most important step to take to create a healthy mind and life. Self-care really means taking care of those needs and making choices that aligned to our values.

And if you lead a life that is dominated by "I should", chances are that you are not following your true self.

Find a healthy way to express your emotions

Unexpressed emotions can creep up on you, creating anger and frustration. That "bad mood" that comes out of nowhere, and that has the potential to ruin relationships.

Unexpressed emotions can create compensatory coping mechanisms, like emotional eating, overdrinking, or self-sabotage.

Having a safe outlet to express our emotions, like creativity, talking to a friend, or a professional like a coach or a therapist is fundamental.

When it comes to mental health, asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength.

Prioritize sleep

Sleep is when the brain detox itself and the body repair and recover. Sleep is when we process our emotions in a deeper state.

When we are stressed, busy, or overwhelmed we often tend to sacrifice sleep. And while this may be OK for a day or two, even just a few days of poor sleep can have a detrimental effect on both your mental and physical health.

Lack of or poor quality sleep can lead to unwanted weight gain, metabolic and hormonal imbalances, food cravings and mood and attention problems.

Do a digital detox

We live in a constant cycle of bad news that is amplified by social media, while that constant being "on" can lead to burnout.

Social media, on the other hand, while giving us a false sense of connection, foster social comparison and social contagion, which can have a detrimental effect on mental health.

Making a conscious choice of switching off, even for a few hours at the weekend, can help us mentally and emotionally recharge, making it possible to live more in the present and truly connect with those around us.

Create tools to deal with stress and negative emotions

Everybody needs a toolbox to deal with everyday stresses and negative emotions, and to take care of their physical health.

From breathing exercises to scheduling short breaks in your busy schedule, there are plenty of ways to attend to your mental health needs.

Some may be relevant to you, some others may not.

But is fundamental that everybody has some, to manage stress and create resilience.

Create a self-care routine that works for you

We often see the mind and the body as different entities, but in reality, they are completely interconnected.

Our mental health affects our physical health and vice-versa. Exercise is a great stress reliever and boosts brain health for example, while nutrition can provide critical nutrients to support neurotransmitters and hormonal production.

It is therefore important to create a whole mind-body self-care routine that encompasses good nutrition, deals with emotional eating, exercise, a sleep routine, social connections, and daily habits that support our mental, emotional, and physical health & wellbeing.

If you find it difficult to put everything together and create a self-care routine that supports both your mental and physical health, try working with a health coach.

You can book a complimentary consultation with me here.

I also want to take this occasion to introduce my new website claudiaarmaniwellness.com where you can find more tips or get in touch for further help.

#mentalwellbeing #wellness #wellbeing #healthcoach #wellnesscoach #selfcare #mentalhealthawareness