LIFE

October 10 is World Mental Health Day! Every year since Oct. 10, 1992, the World Federation of Mental Health has used this day to campaign for mental health awareness. Wondering what this means for you? It's a day for checking in with yourself and prioritizing *your* mental health too. Bc it's true—absolutely *nothing* is more important than your well-being.

1. Practice mindfulness

Ahhh mindfulness...the practice of honing into your body and surroundings. Take a few minutes out of your day to breathe or meditate, walk around the block or simply stop and hone into all five of your senses. Our motto? Do what brings you zen.

2. Get moving 

Exercise is *literally* scientifically proven to induce serotonin (aka increase your happiness levels). The possibilities are endless—running, dancing, tennis, jump rope? Your choice! 

3. Spend time outside 

Time in nature can be restorative and recharging. Find little ways to get outside in your day: maybe you can walk somewhere close instead of driving or maybe you can find a few minutes to read in your yard or at a nearby park. However you get out into the sun, you'll feel *much* better after getting some fresh air and vitamin D.

4. Be kinder to yourself 

It's time to be gentler with yourself. Struggling to ditch the negative self-talk? Pretend you're talking to your younger self. One other way to be kinder to yourself is to use affirmations: say a few phrases pointing out what you love about yourself in the mirror, write them in your journal and think about them whenever you feel down on yourself.

5. Write about how you're feeling

Whenever you're feeling stressed out or down, it can be hard to understand how or why you're feeling a certain way. Enter: journaling. Taking just a few minutes to write every thought that comes to mind can be a total game changer. It'll help you understand yourself, *and* it can feel like you're letting go of some of those negative emotions.

6. Have a creative outlet 

Our mantra? Gravitate towards what makes Y-O-U happy! Don't do things just bc other people are. Love knitting? Scrapbooking? Scrolling through Pinterest? Whatever brings you joy, do that and don't look back! 

7. Make at least one promise to yourself to keep every day 

The key to trusting yourself? Making promises to yourself that you *actually* keep. These can be simple (think: checking one thing off your to-do list, taking 20 minutes to relax or taking a five-minute break from your HW). When you trust yourself, your confidence will skyrocket—making your potential truly endless.

8. Reach out 

When you struggle, you don't have to do it alone. Having a rough day? FaceTime your bestie (if they themself are in the right headspace to listen to you vent—always make sure to check with them before!), ask your mom to go for a walk with you to talk it out or turn to a sib. Whoever you trust and love the most is usually the best person to turn to if you could use someone to vent to after a tough day. But if it's more than just a little passing stress or sadness? See number 10 for more on when to seek help from a pro.

9. Set boundaries for yourself 

This is your sign to say no to at least one thing today. Whether it's turning down an invite when you're emotionally exhausted or saying no to taking time away from your own mountain of work to help a classmate, saying the often dreaded word can be surprisingly healthy. 

10. When to seek professional help 

If your mental health is struggling, you're not alone and you don't have to deal with it by yourself. If your stress becomes an everyday occurrence or if you notice you're more often sad than not, that may be a sign that you may need to reach out for help. Reminder: there is *nothing* wrong with needing some extra support. 

For more mental health content, check out these related posts:
🧠 This web series is raising awareness for teen mental health struggles 
🧠 How to help a friend who is struggling with their mental health 
🧠 Your zero stress, step-by-step guide to therapy 

If you or someone you know is struggling, there are resources available.

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 988

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 to reach a Crisis Counselor 

Slider and top image via Unsplash
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by Eva Mandelbaum | 10/10/2022