From the desk of Caitlin Hanson,
The sun is out and warm weather is officially upon us (whoop whoop!!) meaning, it’s time to finally part from our gloomy, seasonal depression!! It’s crazy to think how our environment (weather, activities, social and/or work life) can take a toll on our mental health.
I don’t know about you, but for me, maintaining a healthy and balanced mental health has always been a battle. It’s so easy to stay busy and go, go, go! But taking time to rest, reflect, and grow individually is exactly what we need to keep going and to ultimately prevent burnout.
Here are a few practical ways we can take better care of our mental health going into this new season!
- Schedule Time to Pause
Whether you’re an introvert or extrovert, it is so beneficial to have at least some quiet time during your day. Find a good time that works for you to slow down and quiet your mind – especially if it’s been a busy and stressful few days.
I’ve found that the time I have alone listening to music, reading, or journaling can really put me in a positive mindset for the rest of my day!
- Get Outside
A friend of mine shared a video with me of this woman complaining and worrying about her life’s purpose, how her job was going, etc… only to cut to the next clip of her laughing and saying, “it’s all good, turns out I just needed some sunshine. To anyone who is concerned, I’m okay everybody!” That video literally made me laugh out loud at how relatable it was.
Getting outside can drastically change our mood. An article from selecthealth.org shares,
“Sunshine boosts your body’s level of serotonin, which is a chemical that improves your mood and helps you stay calm and focused. Increased exposure to natural light may help ease the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder.”
So, get that sun in while you can!
- Daily Affirmations
While it might be uncomfy to say affirmations to yourself… so much of our mental health issues come from within. Negative self-talk, overthinking a situation, or questioning your abilities sometimes come second-nature for us to do.
Try to break that cycle and speak truth and kindness to yourself by saying one or two things out loud or in a journal. A little affirmation can go a long way and hopefully bring you out of a negative mental funk.
- Make Sleep a Priority
Sleep is what helps us function everyday. And too often it can be taken for granted!
To help you wind down from a long day, consider putting your devices down or turning them off to give your eyes a break a few hours before bedtime.
What Does God Say About This?
While the Bible doesn’t explicitly mention the topic of “mental health,” a lot of it addresses the big topics of maintaining good emotional, physical, and spiritual health.
Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Here is where prayer is so powerful! God wants to listen to our struggles and cares for us so deeply. Sharing our battles of anxiety, depression, lack of sleep, stress – whatever it may be – does not go unheard to God.
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