6 Ways to Prioritize Your Mental Health

When life seems complicated, improving your mental health can feel like an impossible task. Here are six easy ways to prioritize your mental health.

Upon the advice of my primary care physician, I started therapy during my long battle with Covid at the start of the pandemic. Ever since that first appointment, my mental well-being has become one of my main priorities in life. Sometimes I wonder how I ever lived without paying such close attention to processing my emotions — but that’s here nor there. I now have the tools to keep my mental health under control and I want to share these ways to improve your mental health.

Here are 6 Ways to Prioritize your Mental Health.

1. Be OK with Not Being OK. Sometimes the hardest part is acknowledging your mental health is unwell. No one is meant to be happy 24/7, but sadness/anxiety is never supposed to be your main emotion.
2. Once you are OK with not being OK, the next difficult step is to Ask for Help. I’m not saying you need to run out to find a therapist — try talking to someone you love and trust first. If you want the help of a medical professional, look for one on this site. We aren’t meant to travel through the stormy parts of life alone!
3. Stop the Negative Self-Talk. Be aware of your inner voice and if it’s not nice — tell it to be quiet. Give yourself grace. Whether it’s positive daily affirmations or just recognizing when you’re beating yourself up — be kind to yourself. You are strong. You deserve love. You are in control of your life. Here is how I use self-talk to battle anxiety.
4. Say No. We only have one life to live and our time is both valuable and precious. Say NO to the things that don’t feel good or right. If you have the choice, don’t waste your moments on Earth doing anything you don’t want to do.
5. Move your body. It’s incredible what a WALK outside can do for your mind, body, and health. Don’t want to leave the house — try a kitchen dance party. Or put on soothing music and stretch your body. Exercise is the most natural way to boost your mood and reduce stress.
6. Make Time for YOU. They say self-care is as simple as brushing your teeth — and they are right. Self care doesn’t have to be expensive or particularly time consuming. Make healthy food choices. Get a good night’s sleep. Do little things that make you happy. Check out my self-care checklist.

There are many benefits of prioritizing your mental health…

There are many benefits of prioritizing mental health — ESPECIALLY when you’re a new Mom. When I became a mother in 2013 I had no idea how much my life was going to change. I wish someone told me how to manage my mental health as a new Mom. It’s very easy for postpartum depression and anxiety to sneak up on Moms. One of the best ways a New Mom can maintain her mental health is to practice self care. If Mom is taken care of, then baby can be taken care of.

From improved self-esteem to increased daily energy, mental health impacts your mind, body, spirit and soul. We are born to laugh, smile, and feel happy — but if you’re not doing any of the above, it’s time to reach out to someone for support.

Read more about the ways I prioritize my mental health here: Normalizing Therapy, How I Calm Down During an Anxiety Attack, Why I Chose to Take Zoloft for Anxiety and Depression, Ways to Treat Anxiety During Pregnancy

Note: I am not a trained medical professional. All of the advice on CHB is based on personal experiences in therapy and various medical sources.