I am talking about mental health to support Bell Let’s Talk Mental Health Awareness Month. It is no secret that I live with mental illness diagnosed with major depressive disorder, seasonal affective disorder and generalized anxiety. For years, I have managed this illness with medication, loving support with family and friends, therapy, behavior changes (CBT), structured life and much more.
To stay in shape, I have a list of exercises my right to mental fitness.
- Pamper yourself by doing something that makes you feel special.
- Volunteer and give some of your time to someone else.
- Listen. It shows you care.
- Do something creative. Write a poem or cook a gourmet delight.
- Free your imagination by dreaming of a special dream.
- Scream in your car or punch your pillow. Let out your frustrations without hurting someone especially yourself.
- Treat yourself to your favorite food.
- Express yourself. Talk about your feelings.
- Listen to music.
- Take a deep breath and let it out slowly.
- Meditation, prayer or yoga. Do something soothing for your soul.
- Read a book and expand your mind.
- Laugh. It’s the world’s best medicine.
- Share a smile with a friend.
- Be assertive and say no when you mean no!
- Take a class and learn something new.
- Write a letter
- Take a day to do something you love to do.
- Forgive yourself every morning before breakfast.
- Get out into the garden.
- Sing in the shower.
- Take an imagination vacation at Club Mind.
- Take a walk rain or shine.
- Watch a sunrise or sunset
- Take up a hobby.
- Read the funnies or create your own.
- Tell people you care.
- Have a big stretch. It does wonders.
- Give yourself a hug.
- Hug someone.
The list could go on or maybe you have something to add to the list. What would it be?
Remember: You are allowed to talk about your mental health!
Thank you for sharing the list. Ways to balance ourselves, hour by hour and day to day. 🙂
There are 30 on the list more than 24 hours in a day, just in case, to give me options which one suits my mood. Tee Hee… thank you, Amy.
My favorite is yoga. I think deep breathing is helpful, too.
YES! I do this once a week for an hour with private instructor.
👌