Mental Health Month

As you may know, May is Mental Health Month. Ironically, these past few months have been really hard on my mental health, as you can see from my posts, or lack thereof. Let me start off by saying that I believe that your mental health is more important than anything else and should be one's main priority. That being said, I know it's not that easy. As a freshman in college with the pressure of maintaining my scholarships so that I can continue attending my dream school, I know that sometimes it seems like there's just no time to focus on yourself and your mental health, so you just keep pushing it aside and saying, "I'll deal with it tomorrow." Well, a little tip from me to you, don't do that. The more you push it aside, the worst it will get and the more it will unconsciously affect you. Your concentration may be affected, your energy levels, your emotions, and so many other aspects of your life. So take ten minutes out of your day to deal with your emotions. Even if that means writing a journal or doing a five minute meditation. Those ten minutes you use to scroll through instagram can be put to better use. Here are some of my favorite ways of maintaining my mental health:

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1) Meditate. I personally really like guided meditation, so I usually either listen to "The Honest Guys" on Spotify or the meditations on 7cups. here's a link: https://www.7cups.com/exercises/mindfulness524/ (I personally like the one's under the "Relaxation" tab, by Monica Frank.

2) Listening to music that relates to how I am feeling. This way, you're accepting your feelings and feel understood!

3) Journaling. I try to journal as much as I can, though sometimes it gets difficult. I used to write one every single day and it worked WONDERS! Here's a tip: make a Google Drive account and compile all your journals so you don't lose them! You can number them and write the dates if you want to keep them in order.

4) See a psychologist. When it's difficult to talk to loved ones, or when your issues are beyond what they are capable of doing, seeking professional help is a smart choice.

5) Check in with friends/family. Text someone you trust and say, "hey, can we talk? I want to tell you about some stuff that I've been thinking about." Sometimes this is easier than talking to a professional and at times can be just as effective!

6) Sleep earlier. When you're stressed, your body is too. Getting enough sleep can help your mind and body deal with difficult situations in a much healthier and efficient way!

7) Pamper yourself. Whether that's alone or with friends, take some time to do some of your favorite things. Go out to your favorite restaurant for dinner or even stay in, put on a face mask, make some popcorn and watch your favorite movie with your best friend! Taking time to do things you enjoy is SO important!

If you have any other suggestions, comment them below!! We'd LOVE to see what tips and tricks work for you!!