You may have heard the phrase, “protect your mental health.” But what does this mean? For many of us this phrase alone may conjure up thoughts of needing to fight off some type of danger or evil. While the phrase is well intended, perhaps it needs a tune up or to be reworked.
Essentially, we are talking about self-care being a crucial element toward our overall health, both physically and mentally. Below you will find some ideas on ways to bolster up your self-care routine.
Simon Sinek, an author and thought leader has a unique perspective on mental wellness. He challenges us to view things in terms of “mental fitness.” Just like going to the gym to work on our physical fitness, we too need to actively work on our mental fitness. It’s a deliberate act in which we intentionally choose to engage.
Just like our physical fitness can go in waves of being extremely fit to less fit, depending on our training schedules, so too can our mental fitness. There are periods when we will feel happier or less motivated. This is to be expected and part of the human experience.
Sinek challenges us to accept this and continue to move forward in a deliberate fashion working on our ever-evolving mental fitness.
Self-care ideas and strategies:
- Get regular exercise. This does not have to be marathon training! Gardening, walking, dancing, yoga, swimming, any form of activity that you enjoy doing is recommended.
- Start a gratitude practice. There are numerous positive benefits to taking a moment to pause and reflect on what we are grateful for.
- Practice mindfulness. Practicing mindfulness is a great way to increase your resilience and to remain more neutral and less reactive to negative stimuli.
- Rest and sleep. When was the last time you had a really good nights sleep? Turns out that quality sleep impacts a myriad of health conditions. Sleep quality impacts our productivity, mood, and outlook on life.
- Eat to nourish yourself. Eating real foods and limiting processed foods can go a long way in improving our mood. This does not mean you’ll never indulge, we all have celebrations we wish to partake in, and that is a good thing! However, we still should strive to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to help our bodies recover.
- Connect with others. Surrounding yourself with people you trust and love to be around is a great way to help reduce stress and can be a crucial element in creative problem-solving tough issues you may be facing.
We’re Here for You
WCC Personal Counseling is available to assist students through difficult life experiences. If you or someone you know is struggling with stress, emotions, mental health or other wellbeing issues, please consider calling 734-677-5223 to learn more about what services are available.
If you are dealing with a mental health emergency and need immediate support, call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. If your or someone else’s life is at risk right now, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department.
Protocall is a mental health helpline for WCC students. If you are in need of support after hours, please call 833-WCC-4-YOU (833-922-4968).
WellTrack Boost is an interactive app available to all WCC students. WellTrack provides you with tools and strategies for stress management and understanding and managing your own mental health. Download the app and log in with your WCC credentials. Learn more about WellTrack Boost here.