May is recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States, but mental health should be recognized everyday around the world. There has been stigma surrounding mental health around the world. As more and more people are willing to talk openly about mental health, it has helped reduce the stigma to promote helpful resources and steps to live a healthier life. It is imperative that we continue to talk openly about mental health awareness in hopes to normalize mental health and promote overall wellbeing. Here are some helpful tips to consider during mental health awareness month, to help lead to a healthier lifestyle:

Find ways to reduce stress: Consider what you enjoy doing – is it reading? Doing a puzzle? Creating a craft? Think of any activity or form of self-care that brings you joy. Write a list of all the things you enjoy doing – think of your hobbies, and think of things you would like to do if you had more time. Then, make time to do what makes you happy. This may seem overwhelming at first, especially for those who have chaotic schedules, but I can assure you that making time for yourself is crucial for promoting a healthier lifestyle. We can’t be our best selves and show up for ourselves, our families, school or work if we are not feeling well mentally and/or emotionally. It’s important for us to be cognizant of our mental and emotional health. Making time to incorporate activities that we enjoy will help us to reduce stress and reach a healthier lifestyle.

Set boundaries: Setting boundaries is key to help alleviate stress. The action of setting a boundary is essential to establish a healthier lifestyle. This includes setting boundaries in our relationships with friends, family, or a significant other – as well as setting boundaries at work. In order for the people around you to become aware of your preferred boundaries, you will need to vocalize them. This may seem challenging, but once you establish boundaries for yourself, you will feel a sense of relief and clarity. If we don’t set boundaries for ourselves, then no one will. We must advocate for ourselves by expressing how we truly feel in order to see and experience a change.

Talk to someone: Internalizing and bottling up feelings, emotions and frustrations will lead to an overwhelming sense of stress. Avoid internalizing by finding the courage to talk to someone you trust. You will immediately feel relieved after confiding in someone you trust – it will feel as though a weight has lifted off your chest. Carrying around that weight can be a burden on your mental and emotional health. Your trusted companions will be grateful that you confided in them for advice and support.

Incorporate physical activity: Physical activity is often misconstrued as intensive aerobic exercising; but that is not realistic for everyone. Physical activity does not have to be extensive or intensive – even if it means taking a walk (brisk or slow-paced), yoga, stretching, etc. – there are many low-impact workouts that are easy on the body and mind. Incorporating physical activity is individualized, and it depends on how your body is feeling. Some days, you may feel energized to partake in an advanced , high-impact exercise, and other days you may feel that your body needs rest. Listen to your body, and incorporate what works best for you.

Take breaks when needed: Speaking of listening to your body for physical activity, this also correlates to mental health as well. Our mind and body will let us know when a break is needed, even if it does not appear to be obvious in the moment. If you’re feeling burned out, overwhelmed, and it’s becoming hard to think straight, then it’s time to take a break. Incorporating breaks throughout the workday will not only alleviate stress, but it will improve overall productivity. Taking breaks will allow you to feel refreshed and recharged. Even if your breaks are a short, try to stand up and move around outside of your workspace. Stretch, walk your dog, grab a healthy snack, hydrate – find ways to incorporate breaks when needed to improve overall wellbeing.

Seek professional help: I cannot emphasize this enough – it is so incredibly helpful to speak to a licensed professional. He or she is here to listen and provide helpful tips catered to you, to help improve your mental and emotional health. There is a misconception surrounding therapy that people will feel judged or shamed; but that is the opposite effect of the experience. If you find that you are constantly feeling overwhelmed, stressed out, and can’t seem to shake it off, then speaking to a licensed professional can help. Don’t be afraid or ashamed to take the first step in seeking professional help. You are not alone in your journey.

What methods do you apply throughout your journey to improve mental health? Share your practices and ideas with me – I’d love to learn and see if there is something new for me to try. No matter where you are within your mental health journey, understand that you are doing the best that you can. Don’t be so hard on yourself – we can certainly be our most toughest critic at times, but we need to break the habit of believing that we are not enough. Believe in yourself, believe in the ability to rise above and overcome the challenges you face with mental health. Inspire, encourage and motivate others around you who are struggling by showing support to those who need it most. We can all make a difference, not just within our lives, but for others as well. Let’s break the stigma.

#Strongertogether #MentalHealthAwareness