How have you been lately?
Maybe you’ve chosen to be quiet on social media and your close friends are noticing that you haven’t been posting as much. Maybe you’ve been wearing a fake smile for too long that no one notices the pain that you are feeling inside. Maybe you’ve been working multiple jobs so that you get to escape from everything that’s been bothering your head. Maybe you’ve been enrolling in different classes to make you feel better and put you in a much more peaceful place. Maybe you’ve been binge-watching Netflix shows, just chilling and waiting for motivation to come knocking again. Maybe you have enlisted the help of a professional counselor to help you deal with your problems.
Maybe you are just waiting for someone to ask you how you have been lately.
No matter the state of your mental health, remember that it is very valid to pause. It is okay if you escape the world for a while to take a deep breath. It is okay if you need a break; sometimes it is even necessary.
But you know what’s not okay?
It’s not okay to stay in a somber place without doing anything. At some point after your break, you would have to do something to help yourself. It all starts with believing that things will eventually get better. It’s hard to have that positive mindset in such a dark place but know that you are not alone and that there are people who are more than willing to hear you out and help pick you up from the dark cloud that has been raining on your head.
Well, we also like to congratulate you for taking the first step. You are reading this article because you are probably looking for a way to help yourself heal and recover. Here are some easy steps to help ease that pain you are feeling inside.
1. Talk it out.
You don’t have to face all the demons in your head alone. You can always ask for consent if you want to vent to another person to know if he or she has space to hear you out. There are professionals who studied years in college to listen to your woes and help you. You have friends and family who can’t wait to spend time again with your bubbly.
2. Write your thoughts in a journal.
Confront your thoughts and have a clearer headspace when you write them out. It doesn’t have to be in perfect grammar. It can be in any language. Just go pour out your feelings in a journal in the most honest way possible. It will help you clear your head and give you a clear path moving forward.
3. Meditate.
Meditation takes practice. You are practicing your head to focus on one thought and let them pass one by one. You don’t need to have an answer to anything; you just need to acknowledge your thoughts and let them pass. Our minds are so powerful; they can literally transform our lives.
4. Practice gratitude.
Start by acknowledging the small things you are thankful for. When you have an appreciative mindset, you’ll be able to have more fun in life. If you are looking for a more peaceful place, you don’t have to move to another country or even break up with your partner. You just have to see the good and appreciate the silver lining for you to enjoy life more. Write three things on your phone or in a notebook that you appreciate for your day.
5. Exercise.
Movement is therapy. See how powerful your body can be by moving and testing its limits. Plus exercise helps you release happy hormones or endorphins. It makes you have that positive mindset that whatever decision you make in life, you will be able to find that happiness and peace of mind you are looking for. Physical and mental health is very much linked to each other so take care of your body in order to take care of your mind.
6. Have enough sleep.
Do not take rest for granted and make sure you get to sleep. It gives you a clearer headspace and helps you stay focused on your goals throughout the day.
7. Have focused time for work or a passion project.
Work uninterrupted every day. Turn off your notifications and try your best to focus on something instead of letting your thoughts get the best of you. Maybe you want to finish an article for work or finally start the photography project that you’ve been putting off for years. Get lost in that flow state where nothing else matters but you and the work that you are doing.
8. Eat properly.
Nourish yourself with the right amount of healthy food. Do not skip meals. Say goodbye to junk food. Avoiding sugar and saturated fats can also help brighten up your mood.
9. Get the help of a professional.
If everything else doesn’t work, hire a therapist to help you process your thoughts and learn how to handle them. There is really no one way to do life but when you have a professional who can guide you in dealing with your past traumas and present horrors, then you can expect a much brighter future.
10. Equip yourself with the right tools.
Sometimes what can help you cope with your deteriorating mental health and still be able to deliver your responsibilities at home and at work is having the right tools. For instance, you can invest in an ergonomic workspace that will help boost your productivity and improve your efficiency. You can become much more focused at work and finish your everyday tasks on time. Ergonomic pieces will also ensure that you can protect your health and overall well-being. Muscle pain can be avoided and you can be assured of a comfortable working experience. Overall, this will motivate and encourage you more to continue going and finish your work. When you are able to deliver a much better performance at work and at home, you feel better about yourself and what you can do despite all the problems that have been haunting your head.
We genuinely wish you the best and although our only commonality is that we’ve looked at the same screen, we hope you get comforted by words from a stranger, us, when we say, “You can do this!”
