3 Ways You Are Sabotaging Your Mental Health

That’s right, I am going to call you out on being your own worst enemy and biggest reason why you struggle. 
 
Just remember, I am calling you out from a place of love (and from experience ;)). 
 
I know you have heard it a thousand times but let this be your one thousandth and one time. 
 
YOU CANNOT FUNCTION WELL WHEN YOUR BASIC NEEDS ARE NOT BEING MET. 
 
 
Here is the thing, we can be a mental health guru but if we are not doing these three things, our mental health tools will not work as well. 
 
Just like having a blender is great but if you don’t have power to get the blender going, it is kind of useless. 
 
Similarly, if your car doesn’t have a battery, even if everything else is good, your car will not work without the battery. 
 
So, let’s talk about the first one.
 
Adequate sleep is crucial for mental health. I am not talking about 8 crappy hours of sleep or 5 good hours, I am talking about quality sleep for a solid 7-9 hours. 
 
If you struggle with sleep, I highly recommend starting a bedtime routine. It will help your body settle and know when it is time to sleep. You may want to listen to a nighttime meditation, do a short nighttime yoga stretch routine or maybe just relax in bed. You may want to try a chamomile tea or warm milk. Find what works to you and practice it DAILY.
 
I am no nutritionist but I do know that how we fuel our body has a huge impact on our mindset. If we eat like crap, we feel like crap. If we do not provide our body with the essentials to function well, it will not function well. 
 
Now, please do not confuse eating well with dieting. Dieting involves rigidity and restriction. Eating well comes from a place of abundance and love for ourselves that we want to fuel it well so that it feels well. It comes from a place of enjoying yummy food that also has health benefits. 
 
Lastly, if we are moving our bodies, every part of us feels better. Movement does not necessarily mean exercise, though it can. It can also mean stretching, walking, gardening or really anything where your body is moving with intention and purpose. There are some who intense physical activity may be most appropriate, for others that would stress their bodies too much and they need something less intense. Notice what is going on in your body and which type of movement feels best for you (and it may change over time). 
 
I know these are basics and that we have talked about them before but I think this week we all needed this reminder, myself included. 
 
If you need help with your mental health, don’t forget I am here to support you. I have two courses to help you on your healing journey. You can check them out here.
 
You are worth it!