5 Things I do Everyday for my Mental Health

Mental Health is personal for me, for all of us. I feel like part of why I was put here on this earth is to facilitate conversations about mental health as they relate to us as a WHOLE person.

Mental Health is a relationship we have with a layer of our being. Just one part of us but I'll be damned if it isn't one of the most important ones. Mental health is interactive and based on the choices we make our mental health is impacted for better or worse. 

5 Things I do for my Mental Health Everyday:

1. Eat a plant focused diet.
   

The gut-brain connection is strong! The more diverse minimally processed food we eat per day the better. Our mental health is directly tied to it.
   2.    Move and connect with my body. 
Daily movement makes us feel better and gives us energy. Our bodies need a variety of movement. I'll admit sometimes connecting with my body takes a real conscious effort. I have to overcome my own desire to avoid my body that manifests in desires to do something else that keeps me in my mind. You're not alone! 
   3.  Practice emotional intelligence and intimacy. 
All emotions are normal and valid. Become aware of what you are feeling, learn about emotions, find ways to express them in a healthy ways and give yourself permission to feel. 
   4.  Spend time in aware in nature. 
Nature is therapeutic and science supports how much we need it. Even a 10 minute sit out in the sunshine can do wonders. 
   5.  Observe my nervous system and self-regulate.
Your nervous system is something you can learn to witness. When your nervous system is stuck in sympathetic arousal mode for example an array of experiences play out. For example, you may feel that you can't take time to care for yourself. You can learn to recognize where your nervous system is and self-regulate. 

What are things you do every day for your mental health?