THE ART OF SELFCARE SERIES || PART 3: 4 TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR MENTAL SELFCARE
She told herself she can’t do it. She was too tired. She worried about the mental exhaustion and brain fog as a result of all day
forced human interaction. She was too afraid of showing up as her authentic self so she "played" a role. She also couldn't
start that business because of what people would think of her taking a crazy risk. She always had to put her entire family first
because of course MOM GUILT!
These were all excuses she made to herself . Excuses were
one of those things that would always get in the way of her happiness and success. At the time she didn’t realize that excuses are
amongst the most lethal weapons used to destroy dreams and goals.
The truth was she didn’t go to work that morning because she knew that if she went, she wouldn’t be able to make it through the
day without reminding herself how tired and mentally exhausted she was...
Sound familiar? If it does then Queen!! You are ME and I was YOU!! [emphasis on WAS]
I’m a big fan of Dr. Brene Brown, a professor at the University of Houston who studies human connection and vulnerability.
Brown says “If I’m brave enough to be seen and heard, then I’m brave enough to be imperfect.”
One of the most important conversations we can have as women is about the emotional impact of YOU on YOU. Regardless if you
don't get it right the first time, or have all the answers. It's the love talk
that you should be having with yourself. Now, The last 2 articles focused on PHYSICAL SELF CARE & EMOTIONAL SELF CARE so in this
article, I'm going to dig into 4 ways you can practice mental self-care so that even
when you're feeling burned out, you can keep your inner fire burning bright!
Mental Selfcare
Mental self-care is a collection of practices that you do specifically to stimulate your mind and cultivate a healthy psyche.
We live in a society that is obsessed with productivity and in turn neglecting one of the most important aspects of our lives:
ourselves. We’re taught that everything can be achieved by working hard and hustling as if we were robots programmed to
conquer the world. Because of this, most people experience burn out, exhaustion and even serious health related issues like stroke
and heart attack at early ages. Mental Self care check:
Do you have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning? Or maybe by the end of a long day your head feels like mush? How
often do you find yourself struggling to balance it all? Are you the friend or family member who always takes on anything and
anyone else’s problems, instead of taking care of your own? Do you find yourself going on auto pilot at work and running on
empty at home? Trust me this was sooo me. And If you answered yes to either of those questions then You’ll definitely want to
incorporate some of the below mental self-care practices into your
everyday life.
Here are 4 easy ways to contribute to your Mental Selfcare:
1. Listen to a meditation podcast- soothing meditation can activate your brain stem, thalamus and auditory cortex. As a result, your brain releases a chemical called oxytocin. According to Medical News Today, studies show that oxytocin can reduce stress and anxiety.
2. Read a book [I'll link one of my current faves that has helped me so much: [HERE] I love it because its full of messages we all sometimes need, that often come at just the right time. It's a reminder that everything you'll ever need, you can find within yourself.
3. Try a new hobby- Painting, journaling, cooking or baking to name a few!
4. Dig deeper in a subject that fascinates you
Informal “self-care” involves everything from having stimulating conversations with friends or family to learning how to set clear
boundaries with them, or even recognizing the need to turn to a professional for help. Ultimately, mental self-care is about
stimulating, nurturing and exercising that lovely muscle we call brain.
