It might be time for you to slow down and take a mental health check-in with yourself.
How is your mental health? Do you feel happy? Do you feel successful with your career? Satisfied with your life? Checking in on your own mental health every now and then is essential. Especially since COVID and other recent events.
We all experience blue moods from time to time, bad days or rough patches in our lives. But, in many cases, we can shake off the blues within a day or two, sometimes a little longer, and keep going. Other times though, that blue mood settles in, and before long, we’ve been experiencing it so long, we don’t even recognize it as abnormal anymore.
Mental Health Check-In With Yourself
It’s a good idea to check in on yourself once in a while and get in touch with how you’re feeling, not just physically but mentally. After all, our mental well-being can support our physical well-being.
Ask Yourself Some Questions
Take a few minutes to ask yourself these questions and answer them honestly:
- How are you feeling today? Both physically and mentally.
- How are you eating? Do you make healthy food choices, grab whatever happens to be handy, or search out junk food to fill yourself?
- Are you staying hydrated and drinking enough water? (It may surprise you that a common dehydration symptom is feeling down.)
- How are you sleeping? Are you getting enough sleep? Is it quality sleep?
- Are you getting any exercise and/or regular activity? Is it enough exercise?
- What thoughts are consuming you lately? What worries and stress are you allowing to take up space and energy?
- Did you do something today that made you feel good about yourself?
- What are you looking forward to this week?
- What is one thing you can do today that will make you feel good?
- What are you grateful for? (Tip: this should be a daily question to ask yourself if you want to experience more joy.)
Tips To Improve Your Mental Health
Now that you’ve assessed how you currently feel, use these tips to improve your mood, keep a good mood going, and benefit your overall mental health:
Be active for at least 30 minutes per day.
Our bodies were not built for a sedentary life, and being active keeps our mental health in good shape. Walk, take a fitness class, or go for a run. Stretch your muscles.
Eat healthily and regularly.
Making good food choices from the start of the day and regularly eating throughout the day will help you make good food choices all day and keep your energy levels regulated.
Stay hydrated.
Water is essential for both physical and mental well-being, so get plenty. If you’re feeling thirsty, you’re already dehydrated.
Prioritize sleep.
Stick to a regular sleep schedule, disconnect from electronics at least an hour before bed, and get at least 7 hours of sound sleep a night to stay healthy.
Try meditation.
A few minutes of quiet relaxation a day will help your mind shut down briefly and increase your mental well-being.
Make a plan for achieving your goals and work towards them daily.
Set goals, then list the tasks to accomplish them. Accomplishing goals brings joy while writing them down then not accomplishing anything leads to depression.
Stay connected with friends and family.
Being around the people, we care about encourages social engagement, emotional support, and comfort. Don’t become solitary; engage with the people in your social circle.
A mental health check-in is necessary to help us see what’s lacking and where we need to improve. It will not only help you be happier in your career but in life. Take a few minutes to check in with yourself today.
I Am Here To Help
If you need guidance on your career, I am here to help. If you find yourself in a situation where you need career advice or support and want to talk about planning for your future, reach out to me, Rachel Schneider at Career Find, for a free Intro Call. I would love to speak with you to determine if I can help you accomplish your goals.