In the last issue we talked about getting out of a rut.
In this issue we are going to go over the importance of
excellent self care.

While the majority of people do actively try to take care of
their physical health by exercising and eating a sensible
diet most don’t stop to think about the other side that
completes a happy, healthy individual, their mental health.

Here are some simple tips for excellent self-care:

– Treat your body – while we exercise to take care of our
body we should also remember to give it a treat, pamper
it a little. This could be by way of a massage after a hard
days work when it is tired and stressed or something as
simple as standing up and giving it a stretch to ease
knotted muscles.

– Take time out – refresh your body and mind by giving
yourself some space, some time just for you, this could
be as little as five minutes where you find peace and
solitude by closing your eyes and deep breathing. The
longer you can take time out from your busy day just for
yourself the better.

– Let your inner child out – can you remember how much
simpler life was when you were a child; go back to your
childhood for a short while. Do something you used to
enjoy doing as a child, this could be anything from
roller skating, lying on your back and finding shapes in the
clouds, making a daisy chain or playing on a swing.

– Comfort yourself – we all have something that comforts
us in times when we need it, something that make us feel
safe and secure. Take time out to comfort yourself every
now and again. This could be sitting in front of a roaring
fire and watching the flames dance, relaxing in a hot
bubble bath surrounded by candlelight, snuggling up in a
favorite blanket or a particular smell that relaxes you.

– Relax in fantasy – take time out to go out of your world
and into another, this could be by way of a book, magazine
or film. Or better yet visualization; go into your own fantasy
world, created by your own mind.

– Treat yourself to a mental health day – treat yourself to
a whole day of just doing whatever it is you enjoy doing,
don’t do any work or even think or feel guilty about what
you should be doing. Just make the day all about you.

– Rediscover nature – reconnect with the world around you
by taking a long walk through the park, notice how green
the grass is and how blue the sky and marvel at the weird
and wonderful shapes of the clouds drifting over the sky.

– Do something you keep putting off – take time out to do
something you have been meaning to do for a long time.
Don’t keep putting it off, make today the day to do it.

These are just some of the ways you can help to improve
your health by taking care of your mental health, just open
your mind and be more aware of your body and mind and
you will discover many other ways to take care of your
mental health which ultimately leads to a happier and
healthier you, overall.

Make sure you look for your next issue soon.
We will be talking about why it is important to take
good care of yourself.