May is mental health awareness month. At LifeWise, we love to advocate for not only mental health, but life wellness, which are integral to each other. In honor of mental health awareness month, I want to share some ways we may keep our mental health on par.
How am I feeling today?
Close your eyes and ask yourself the following questions –
- Do you notice feeling stress, anxiety, worry, sadness, or other challenging emotions?
- How do I rate my mental health on a scale of 1 to 10?
- How may my mental health be affecting my physical health?
- Stress may cause headaches, body pains, skin rashes, or worsening of chronic health problems to name several symptoms
- Anxiety may lead to headaches, nausea, loose stools or constipation, muscle tension, or frequent urination to name some issues
- Depression may affect our appetite in eating more or less, weight loss or gain, loss of energy, and unexplained aches and pains losing pleasure in things we used to enjoy, sleeping too little or too much to name a few effects
Now, consider if anything has been weighing heavy on you –
- Is something from work, home, relationships, family, or yourself bothering you?
- Am I making self-care a priority?
- Am I setting clear and consistent boundaries?
- Am I effective in my communication skills?
- Do I have effective coping skills?
- Is my conflict resolution style functional?
- Am I setting goals and reaching them?
- Am I the best version of myself I can be?
- Do I need therapy or life coaching?
Think about your physical health and whether you are tending to that part of your well-being –
- Am I eating healthy and exercising?
- Have I had a well check with my primary care physician in the last year?
- Do I have coping skills that help reduce tension in my body?
- Do I drink enough water?
- Do I refrain from an excess of alcohol, smoking, or other unhealthy vices?
- Am I sleeping enough?
- Am I allowing myself to rest?
Think about whether you bring joy to your own life –
- Do you laugh?
- Do you allow your inner child to play?
- Do I practice gratitude daily?
- Am I doing things for others?
- Am I connecting with my spiritual beliefs and practices?
- Do I have hobbies I enjoy?
- Do I spend time with friends and family?
Think about the people in your life that form your support network – at least 3 people –
- Who are the people who love, respect, and support you the most?
- Do they validate you and give you the space to feel your feelings?
- Do they offer factual advice or guidance as well as opposing views to give you a whole perspective?
- Do they allow you to feel seen and heard?
- Is the relationship reciprocal?
What do your answers tell you about your mental health?
LifeWise 