It’s important to take care of our mental and physical health and keep it at the top of your mind by practicing self-care regularly. We’ve all heard, over and over again, to prioritize sleep, eat healthy food, and exercise regularly, and because we hear it all the time, we easily overlook them and their importance. But those aren’t the only ways to nourish yourself.
Here are some unexpected ways to nourish your mind, body, and soul every day:
1. Set boundaries with others and with yourself.
When you get overly involved with other people’s problems, absorbed by news and social media, and exposed to negative things, it takes away from your ability to nourish your soul. Set limits for how much time you spend dealing with other people’s and the world’s problems. You don’t have to do everything for everyone else. Identify your values and what is important to you, communicate your needs with your loved ones, and set healthy boundaries. It’s important to speak up for yourself and honor your boundaries and needs.
2. Practice mindfulness.
We spend so much of our lives on autopilot, and then all of a sudden think, “where did the last year go?!” Practicing mindfulness can help you get more out of life by bringing more attention and awareness to the things you are already doing. It is a practice and a tool that can make life better and more enjoyable, ultimately improving your overall mental health.
3. Practice gratitude.
It’s easy to take the basics in life for granted. Practicing gratitude teaches you to be grateful for the basics – health, home, food, the people in your life, what you’ve accomplished, and what you value. The breath you can take right now, in this moment, is a gift. This practice helps you stay down-to-earth and humble. Think about or write down in a journal what you are grateful for. Practicing gratitude relieves stress, anxiety, depression, and nourishes the soul.
4. Take breaks.
If you are going, going, going, and don’t take any breaks, it can lead to burnout. Slow down, take a mental health day, and pause for a moment. It’s exhausting to go nonstop, which so many people do. Throughout the day, just pause, take a deep breath, and take that moment for yourself.
5. Be mindful of self-talk.
What is the self-narrative you tell yourself? How do you talk about yourself to others? Be mindful of the words you use to refer to and describe yourself. Are they kind or hurtful? The way we talk and think about ourselves informs the way we view ourselves. Eliminate labels, putdowns, and self-criticism and speak to yourself the way you would to a friend or someone you love and care for. When we speak to and think about ourselves with compassion, it allows us to be who we are.
6. Find or create moments of joy.
While it’s important to stay focused and have structure, it’s equally important to balance accomplishing goals with leisure. Take it one day at a time, and try to find balance within every day. If there are days where the balance is skewed one way or the other, acknowledge it, be mindful of it, and reflect on how you can shift that balance and be intentional about it. Every day, try to find moments of joy, even if it’s sprinkled in among sadness or chaos. If you can’t find it, create moments of joy – put on your favorite song, take a nap, call a friend, read something or watch a show that will make you laugh. Create or find those moments of joy.
7. Adhere to your basic routines.
Having daily structure and intention can help you live more meaningfully. Do you have goals you set up each day that you’re trying to accomplish or are you going through each day haphazardly? Incorporate physical movement into every day. That doesn’t mean traditional exercise or going to the gym. It can be stretching, walking, dancing, or anything else you find enjoyable. If you have a physical job, do you have a chance to rest your body and recover? Be mindful of what you consume – social media, food, the environment you put yourself in, the people you interact with… is it toxic or positive? Are you eating regularly? Don’t skip meals because you’re working like crazy and forget about lunch. Be mindful of how you spend your time so you can change your routine and add new things that will benefit you. If you don’t have structure to your day or goals set, how can you hold yourself accountable?
8. Balance social and personal time.
Some people are natural social butterflies, while others tend to spend more time alone. Whatever kind of person you are, it’s important to find a balance between your own personal quiet time and time spent with others. If you are prone to being more reserved or introverted, honor who you are, but also honor that we are social beings. Don’t put yourself in isolation. If you are social, honor it but be mindful of that balance. Often people fill their schedules to avoid spending time alone. Make quiet time for yourself to recharge, nourish your mind and body, and get to know and connect with yourself on a deeper level.
9. Practice humility.
Practicing humility doesn’t mean you can’t express ways you are proud of yourself and your accomplishments. You are allowed to be confident, but be mindful of others, honest with yourself and your intentions, and stay grounded to earth. When people become overly confident, boisterous, or even arrogant, it prohibits them from being able to learn, adapt, and hold themselves accountable. You are human. Be honest with your contributions to situations and acknowledge your strengths and limitations. You don’t have to be a super person. Be open to learning, changing, and growing. Be open to challenging yourself and trying something new. It’s ok if you’re not good at it. Part of humility is knowing that you won’t be good at everything and it’s ok if you suck at something new.
10. Honor yourself.
Respect your own individualization. You don’t have to try and fit in with everyone else, society, and the world. Be open and honest with yourself. What are your values, priorities, and needs? Spend time getting to know yourself and stay true to your own individual self. Maybe it’s time to evaluate your own set of values and priorities that have meaning to you.
Nourish Your Mind, Body, and Soul
Part of enjoying life is to be present and live with intention. Therapy can help you connect to yourself on a deeper level, figure out your values and priorities, and live in a way that nourishes your body, mind, and soul. Dr. Heather Violante provides teletherapy (online video therapy) to adults living in Florida and New York, as well as all PsyPact enrolled states (listed below). Contact her online or call (754) 333-1484 to request a HIPAA compliant teletherapy session.
Offering Online Therapy in 42 States
I am a licensed psychologist in the states of Florida and New York. Additionally, I have Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology (APIT) from the PSYPACT Commission. I provide telehealth (online video therapy) to adults living in the 42 participating PSYPACT states listed below. For a list of current PSYPACT participating states, please visit the PSYPACT website at: https://www.psypact.org/psypactmap.
PsyPact enrolled states:
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming