Why Mental Health Matters and How You Can Focus on Your Self-Care

Why is mental health awareness important?

It is crucial to treat mental health at every age. Making happiness a priority is very healthy. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, physical, and social well-being, but is easy to overlook if we do not care for it. There is often a stigma attached to mental health, but in recent years there has been more discussion about mental illness in an effort to break down the stigma.

Mental health is important because when mental illness is left untreated, it can cause serious problems with behavior, thinking, energy, and emotions. Taking care of yourself can help improve mental health conditions. Valuing your mental health can make you more productive, improve your relationships, and make you feel better about yourself.

Why is it important to strive to be the best version of you?

Self-care and mental health require self-acceptance. Work on loving yourself as you are, and stop comparing yourself to others. Your most important relationship is the one you have with yourself, so make sure to focus on your personal growth and strengths. This will help build your confidence.

It can be empowering to let go of expectations and focus on being the best version of yourself, rather than worrying about what others think. When you prioritize your own needs and wellbeing, your mental and physical health are likely to improve.

Make a self-care checklist with attainable goals

Setting goals for yourself can help you stay motivated, but there are a few things to keep in mind. Make sure your goals are achievable and focus on taking care of yourself and your mental health. We all have different strengths and weaknesses, so spend time working on improving your abilities and learning new skills. This will help you feel more energized. It's often better to set goals for yourself rather than goals that are based on performance, which can be more challenging and less enjoyable.

Having daily self-care checklists sounds straightforward, but how many of us are really doing it? It's worth investing your time and resources on attainable goals that will make a difference in your work life, marriage, and self-confidence. It is worth the effort and can help you discover something that nourishes.

Here are examples of what to have on your self-care checklist:

• Practice 5-10 minutes of meditation before going to bed
• Get inspired by a new podcast to expand your knowledge
• Take a personal day to regroup and recharge
• Use habit trackers in your day-to-day life. Read examples of easy habits that can improve your health.
• Work on your gut health. Stomach problems are often met with lots of stress, and research shows there’s a connection between your gut and brain. Discover how to have a happy gut and live a happy life. 

Our favorite journaling prompts for mental health

Another valuable habit is adding a few minutes of journaling into your daily routine. Journaling is proven to be a great outlet for mental health. Adding 5-10 minutes to journal can have major therapeutic benefits for your mental health.

If you are not fully comfortable or feel stressed thinking about what to write about, finding journal prompts may be an easier option. There are many journals sold at stores that have different prompts to write about from page to page. You can also download a journal app or simply buy a journal and add your own prompts in them.

Here is a list of some of our favorite journal prompts:

• Write your top 10 travel destinations
• What is the thing you most value in life and why?
• List 5 things that make you smile
• What fear have you overcome in the past?
• What is your best childhood memory

You’re not alone. Make time for mental health self-care quotes to start the day

Remember: you are not alone! We all need to spend time on our self-care and focus on mental health to live our best lives. We have good days and bad days, and it is nice to remind ourselves that everyone deals with stress, anxiety, and fears.

Need a reminder? Read self-care quotes to kick off the day. Our favorites are below:

• “To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.” Oscar Wilde
• "When you say, ‘yes’ to others make sure you are not saying ‘no’ to yourself.” Paulo Coelho
• “You have to believe in yourself when no one else does – that makes you a winner right there.” Venus Williams

If you are struggling, know that there are amazing mental health services that can help you find clarity.