Small Acts of Self-Care That Are Good for Stress and Your Mental Health

As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to an end, I wanted to share a few different self-care practices that have been good for my mental health. Mental health has such a deep meaning in my life and it really is so essential for me to take care of it each day. If you've been feeling mentally and physically tired, these small acts of self-care are really beneficial in taking care of yourself holistically. I know that stress definitely takes a toll on my well-being. So, it's super important to especially take care of yourself when you feel that you've been having symptoms of elevated stress. Stress can manifest itself in so many different ways, so to help keeps ourselves feeling calm, it's best to continuously practice self-care throughout the day.

Take breaks

Do some stretching, watch a comfort show, go for a walk, go pet your dog, get a drink of water, etc. Getting away from the desk and the work throughout the day helps our minds feel decluttered and less overwhelmed.

Practice your hobbies

Practicing your hobbies and what brings you joy has been proven to help relieve symptoms associated with stress. I encourage you to either find or practice something you love and that you can do each day (that might be singing, knitting, cooking, being creative), whatever brings you happiness :)

Find something to laugh about

I know this might seem cringe, but laughter is good for the soul and our mental health. So find something to laugh about each day. Whenever you feel a little stressed, turning to laughter is always the way to go! And laughter indeed is an act of caring for yourself because it makes you happier!

Listen to your feel-good music

I find that listening to my fave feel-good music is the most effective way to bring down my stress. It automatically boosts the serotonin and makes me feel happy. And you know that happy feelings really do help counteract stressors. So throw in some headphones and just blast your favorite music that makes you feel good!

Pamper yourself

Do your favorite face mask, do your hair, get a massage, take your time with your skincare routine, eat your favorite meal, etc. Pampering yourself and showing yourself love is so beneficial for our mental well-being and truly makes us feel so much calmer. It's honestly good for the soul. One of my favorite things that I do to pamper myself at least once a week is doing a nice face mask and then putting on my favorite show.

Dance to some upbeat music

Out of all honesty, I find that free-style dancing to your fave upbeat music is very energy-boosting and therapeutic. It's a great way to just let loose of the stress in our bodies, and any kind of movement increases our serotonin, which automatically boosts our mood and lightens anxiety. So, whenever you feel some stress, just get up and dance to your hit music!

Do some stretching/get in movement

Stretching is always a great way to unleash the tension in our bodies. I love to do some stretching either at night or even during the day when I need a break and also when I feel some stiffness in my body. I also love to move my body in a way that I feel is good for me. Any kind of movement does indeed bring down my stress.

Remember to take care of yourself and your mental health. If you're feeling a little more heightened stress on certain days, these small acts of self-care are really helpful in bringing down stress.

Take good care,

Esha

Image from Wix Photography