It’s World Mental Health Day, which means today we’re taking a moment to focus on how we can put ourselves first. While managing your mental health is an ongoing process, it never hurts to check in and see how you’re doing – whether that means taking a day to reorganize your closet, asking your friends how they’re holding up, or making your favorite comfort food and snuggling up with a movie. In honor of World Mental Health Day, here are five ways to check in on yourself, especially when the world seems a little crazy.
1. HALT
The acronym HALT stands for hungry, angry, lonely, and tired, and it’s a great way to remind yourself that your body needs just as much love as your mind does! Have you had trouble sleeping lately? Forgotten to eat? Haven’t had any interaction with friends or physical affection in a while? All these are pain points that can leave us feeling drained, sad, or just plain off. If you find that you’re struggling with your mental health, try checking in with HALT.
2. Be your own BFF
If your best friend came to you and was feeling down, how would you react? Probably, you’d offer them some words of comfort, spend some time with them on the phone, or suggest they come over to hug it out. If that’s the way you’d treat your friend, why wouldn’t you do the same for yourself?
3. Get your body moving
Ah, exercise – we love to hate it and hate to love it. But the truth is that even just going for a walk can have positive, amazing effects on our moods. Whether you love a good sweat or are having trouble just getting out of bed, adding a little movement to your day can generate the production of feel-good endorphins, give you a sense of accomplishment, and even motivate you to complete other tasks you might be putting off.
4. Do something selfless
Still not feeling yourself? Try reaching out to members of your community and see how you can help someone else. While it might seem counter-intuitive, providing service for others is a fantastic way to lift your spirits. You’ll feel good knowing you made a positive impact on someone else’s life, and you may find that your own problems can be put into perspective when dealing with someone else’s.
5. Indulge
Digging into that brownie sundae every day may not be the best thing for your mental health, but there’s a reason indulging in a little self-care when you’re feeling down can make you feel a little brighter. Whether that means buying dinner from your favorite takeout place, treating yourself to a new piece of jewelry, or splurging on skincare for a spa night in, treat yourself to one special thing and we promise everything will look a little better in the morning.
What do you do to make yourself feel better when you’re feeling down? Let us know by tagging us on social media @shanecompany, or send us an email at social@shaneco.com.
