Spring Cleaning for your Mental Health
Spring has sprung, and with the warmer temperatures, many people open their windows, deep clean, and declutter their homes. But what about your mental health? Decluttering your mind is just as important as organizing your home. Let’s take a look at a few simple tips to jump-start your spring cleaning for your mental health.
Start journaling
Keeping a journal of your thoughts, hopes, fears, and anxieties is excellent for your mental health. Whether you have been journaling for years or it’s a new pastime, journaling helps to release these feelings and emotions from your mind. Start by writing just a few minutes each evening before you go to bed. You just might be surprised at how it can help enhance your well-being.
Drop a bad habit
Dropping even one bad habit is a great start to help your mental health and well-being. It’s always best to start small and replace an unhealthy habit with a positive one. For example, instead of sitting on the couch after you prepare a big meal, consider taking a short walk around your neighborhood. If you always start your day drinking soda, grab a large glass of ice water with lemon instead. These small changes will help you begin to recognize that when you put your mind to something, noticeable changes can be made over time.
Let go of the past
Negative feelings and drama have a way of sticking to us. Letting go of the past allows you to focus on the present and move forward in the future. Your mind will become a more positive space and will be better able to handle the rest of the year. Not only will you feel better, but you’ll also feel less anxiety and stress.
Finish a project you've been putting off
Everyone has a list of projects they keep putting off but are lingering in the back of their minds. Start your mental spring cleaning by writing down a list of all the things you’ve been putting off that you want to complete in the next year. From cleaning the garage and home repairs to making that doctor’s appointment you keep putting off, write it all down and start with one task at a time. Then you can refer to the list when you have free time throughout the year.
Cultivate positive relationships
We all have friends and family in our lives that we love. However, we may not have the most enjoyable or healthy relationships with these people. Prioritize spending time with the people in your life who have the most positive influence on you and your mental health. While it may not always be possible to avoid the people who negatively impact you, that does not mean you have to spend the majority of your time with them.
Start to heal from past trauma
Life does not leave us unscathed. You may have some experiences in your past that negatively affected you. If you haven’t already started , now is the time to move towards your future and work through past traumas. Trauma therapy can help you identify how your past traumas are impacting your present life. It can provide you with the tools to heal and move forward.
Practice gratitude
Multiple research sources indicate practicing gratitude can positively impact your mental health. Benefits to incorporating gratitude into your life include improvements in sleep, self-esteem, physical health, mental health, building stronger relationships, and developing enhanced empathy. There are many ways to incorporate gratitude into your life. Some examples include writing thank you letters, mentally thinking about what you are thankful for, keeping a gratitude journal, praying, counting your blessings, or meditating. When you make gratitude a part of your daily life, you’ll feel more connected and in tune with the world around you. You’ll also start to realize how you serve as a source of gratitude for others.
Cypress Counseling
If you need more tips or are looking for some assistance to achieve your mental health and wellness goals, we can help. At Cypress, our team of mental health professionals leverages their expertise and experience to help our clients develop and maintain healthy relationships that enchance their lives.
