How To Strengthen Your Sense of Self
Life is full of demands! This is especially true during a time when we all continue to adjust to a ‘new normal’ during the COVID-19 pandemic. From telework to e-learning, many of us are juggling tasks that are well outside the realm of our old responsibilities.
The truth is, adjusting to these new tasks, responsibilities, and environments isn’t always easy. It’s important to be kind to yourself as you continue to grow and build resilience. Some people might find themselves caring for others during this time far more than they care for themselves. These demands can really build up and take a toll on your mental health making
proper self-care essential.
The good news is proper self-care doesn’t have to cost a dime. It’s also not just a trend… it’s a necessity! If you are struggling or feeling overwhelmed, move forward in positivity with these renewing self-care tips.
Get Enough Sleep
Never underestimate the power of a good night’s sleep! Experts recommend getting 7-9 hours of quality sleep each day. Falling short can heavily influence your energy levels, motivation, and emotional health. If you are struggling to fall asleep, try creating a calming nighttime routine. Remove technology and other stimulations that can keep you awake and engaged.
Meditation can relax your brain and calm your mind. Not only can meditation improve your sleep quality, but it may also help reduce blood pressure and ease pain, anxiety, and depression.
Set Healthy Boundaries
Setting healthy boundaries in life isn’t always easy. When you learn to say “no” instead of “yes”, you teach people how to treat you with respect. Healthy boundaries can improve your wellness by eliminating stress and anxiety. Mental boundaries helps you separate your feelings, needs, interests, and beliefs from others’ which helps strengthen your sense of self.
Eat Right
As the saying goes, you are what you eat! But your diet also affects the way you feel. The gut-brain axis refers to the physical and chemical connections between your gut and brain. But sometimes, the good bacteria is thrown off balance by things like stress and unhealthy eating. Unfortunately, these changes in the gut-brain axis can affect the way you feel.
Gut inflammation can trigger mood swings and disorders and can be caused by trying to digest overly processed foods.
Incorporate foods that will help improve your gut health. Yogurt, fruits and vegetables, fermented foods, and whole grains are all gut-friendly foods that can help improve your mood.
Find Professional Support
Making yourself a priority is the ultimate form of self-care! Sometimes proper self-care includes seeking help to manage your symptoms of anxiety and depression. There are so many fears surrounding this novel pandemic. It’s OK to not be OK.
To further help in the fight against COVID-19, our COPE team has developed a novel 6- week teletherapy program aimed to help patients adapt to the negative emotions and behaviors surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Give our team a call today to find a COPE supported center near you.