MENTAL HEALTH......a moment or a routine ?

 

What is mental health for you?
A routine or A moment?

                             We all have heard about routine check ups. Aaaahhhh.......wait! Let me re-frame it, we all have heard about physical routine check up. Insisting people to have their physical routine check-ups done, is very common for us. But what if I ask you, have you ever insist yourself to get your mental routine check-up done? This simple question would lead to more such questions as: Is it even common? is it that necessary? is something like this even possible?
                          Let me sum all these questions up and answer with a simple "yes". The term "routine check-up" actually means a "wellness check", and your wellness depends on both- your physical as well as your mental health. Moreover, an interesting fact about mental routine check-up is you can do it by yourself being in your comfortable zone, without having to do with visiting chambers and hospitals. All your mental routine check-ups need is:

1. AWARENESS:

                                  

                         Try to be aware of your thoughts and emotions that are leading to your current behavior. Ask yourself, "what are the thoughts responsible for this particular emotion?" This simple act of asking will limit the mess created in your mind.

2. ACCEPTANCE:

                                    Stop denying whatever it is. If you find out that your thoughts are somewhat negative, accept it but with kindness. Throwing tantrums or frustration at yourself will not help. Keep it in mind, the very thing you are throwing at yourself is what you are inviting. So, instead of accusing yourself "how could you think like this?", accept it by saying "it is okay if you think this way but what is the solution now?"

3. COMMUNICATION:

                                             

                                   Have a good conversation with your inner self. Try to untangle the knot within you first by being more communicative with yourself and then with others. This will make the whole process of understanding better.

4. POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS:

                                                        

                                                         Don't avoid negative people or escape from the negative consequences. Negativity is so common these days that escaping cannot be the solution. Try giving those negativity a more positive shape through conveying positive affirmations to your inner self. Instead of saying "I think I cannot do it", try saying this "Failures are normal; I can do it".

5. MEDITATION:

                                     

                          Meditation or being mindful is an answer to a lot of your doubts. Trust me, you don't have to sit aside and follow the formal way of meditation. You can do it even informally. Just. Feel. Your. Present. Moment. That's all. No matter what you are doing,  be it- walking or having your meals, just be enough conscious to feel the bodily sensation, the surrounding, the thoughts and the emotions arising from your present activity.

6. ME TIME:

                          

                           Take some time out of your busy schedule and label it as your "me-time". Do whatever you love to do in this me-time, be it painting, singing, cooking. Always remember, me-time is your time and only you are involved in it. So, start planning your me-time everyday.

7. TO DO LIST:

                       

               Last but not the least, start listing your "to do" regularly and mark off the activities you have finished doing. This simple step has the power to keep you motivated all day long and give you a sense of accomplishment, which ultimately boost your self-confidence.

                                  Our mental health should be an important routine for us and not just a moment to sneak-peek at. Do not make your mental health be celebrated on just a particular day or a particular month.

Let everyday be our mental health day.