Whoever said that adulting is a trap was right because of the exhaustion of it all! The pressure of it all! I need a 6-month vacation, twice a year. Between work, family obligations, social commitments, and other responsibilities, it can feel like there is no time to take care of ourselves. Mental health often takes a backseat in our lives because there are “more pressing” issues. However, as cliche as this will sound, I need to remind you that there’s truly no health without mental health.
Mental health is not just about brain health. It refers to your emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It encompasses your ability to cope with stress, handle relationships, make decisions, and engage in daily activities healthily and positively. I’m sure you’ve heard this all before, even here on our blog, so the major question is how do you do it? How do you make sure you keep up with all there is to do to care for your mental health? What’s the formula to make it all easy for us?
Hand Of Mental Health
The hand of mental health is a visual of the human hand with five fingers that each represent an aspect of wellness. It prompts us to ponder our daily decisions and how they influence our mental well-being.
These 5 pillars are sleep & rest, food & eating habits, relationships & emotions, exercise & mindfulness, and creativity & pleasure.
The thumb represents sleep and rest. Ask yourself these three questions:
Did I sleep well throughout the night?
Did I wake up feeling refreshed and energized?
Did I take time to rest and relax?
The index finger represents food and eating habits. Ask yourself these three questions.
What did I eat during the day?
Did I enjoy the meals or who did I enjoy them with?
How did the meals make me feel afterward?
The middle finger represents relationships and emotions. Ask yourself these three questions.
How was my mood today? Or What made me happy/sad?
Who did I spend time with and how?
Did I share my feelings with anyone?
The ring finger represents exercise and mindfulness. Ask yourself these three questions.
Did I do any form of exercise or movement?
Was I fully engaged in the things I did today?
What activities brought me the most joy?
The small/pinky finger represents creativity and pleasure. Ask yourself these three questions.
Which fun things did I do today?
What is beautiful in my eyes today?
Did I pursue any creative outlets today?
Unless you’re fully committed to checking in with yourself every day, it may be a bit hard to ask yourself the three questions in each category. So let’s make it easier for you!
All 5 fingers up:
Thumb - Did I sleep/rest? Or How can I rest today?
Index finger - Did I eat well? Or What will I eat today that’s nourishing?
Middle finger - Did I talk about my emotions/connect? Or I will check in with how I feel today
Ring finger - Did I move? Or I intend to exercise, walk, dance, etc.
Pinky finger - Did I get creative/have fun? Or How can I have fun today?
You can remind yourself about all 5 aspects in the morning before you start your day so that it stays at the back of your mind. You can also take stock at the end of the day to see what you did well and what you can improve on. Your well-being should be your highest priority every day.
Starting therapy is the best mental health decision you can make for yourself this year. Contact us today and we'll discuss your needs as well as answer any questions you might have about cost, length of treatment, and coordinating services.
We treat these common concerns:
Depression
Anxiety and Phobias
Relationship Difficulties
Life Transitions
Difficulties with Self-Esteem
Eating Issues
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Professional/Career Issues
College/Graduate School Issues
Medical and Health Concerns
Pain Management
Stress Management
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
Sexual Abuse
Spirituality
Gender Identity Support
LGBT Counseling
Grief, Loss, or Bereavement
Other Issues
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