That feeling of burnout and mental tiredness when we work too hard or get too engrossed in running after our goals. It can happen to the best of us who pride ourselves at taking good care of ourselves that sometimes we lose track of our emotions and mental health. What should we do? We should do the obviously required thing at that time, slow down a bit if not physically then mentally. Thus, the term “mental vacation” was coined. Also doing the below steps can also help.
- AVOID OVERTHINKING AND STRESS:- Whenever something gets delayed or stuck, we tend to stress about it or overthink about it a lot. It is obviously very harmful for our mental health. See I can tell you to be patient and happy till the thing that you want comes along but it is tough, I know that. So, keep a timeline to stress, like say I am going to stress about X problem from 9 pm to 9:30 pm and avoid any thoughts regarding it at other times. Do try this, and slowly try to be patient about it. Having a stress window is better than stressing all the time.
- HAVING A MEDIUM TO HEAL: – So many people have asked me this question over these years, how do we heal? Interestingly we all don’t heal the same way, so you have to find a medium that heals you. It can be music, painting, writing, poetry, dancing, running or something else. Like I tried everything but nothing heals me faster than writing. But running and dancing help me too. So better find what is yours and do it on a regular basis. Depression is actually a suppression of a lot of emotions and anger etc done over a long period of time so one should find a way to heal their emotions.
- ROUTINE AND POSITIVE LIFESTYLE : – We all know this but your mental health benefits a lot from doing positive activities like meditation and exercise than it does from partying and eating unhealthy food. So if you are going through a mentally or emotionally tough phase and/or are healing from something, you need a iron clad schedule full of positive energy giving activites and bed rotting is not one of them. You have to be strict with yourself to overcome this tough phase. Same goes for a phase when you are doing a lot of work and trying to achieve something. Letting your hair down once in a while will help ofcourse but more than that doing calming and positive activities will help you in the longer run.
- DIET, WATER AND SUPPLEMENTATION: – Our body is unforgiving, whatever you do to it, it remembers. So be very sure of what you feed it. Healthier the better. Also being hydrated at all times is underrated. Water helps more than you know. When you are going through intense periods of your life, good or bad. Consult a nutritionist or a specialist and give your body the help it needs. (There are good intense periods also while you are achieving your dreams). Supplementation is going to help you sail through those times and your body will thank you. e.g. taking magnesium will help you sleep.
- SELF LOVE COME WHAT MAY: – You know even when you do everything right, you can have haters. The world is not necessarily going to celebrate your goodness and it can affect your happiness. It can be quite the opposite and things people do or say can affect you in the phase of growth especially if you are doing something different. So, practicing self-love, come what may is a good way to keep your mental health in check. Happy hormones are really important part of your Mental health and you have to be relaxed, calm and happy. Doing mindless activities like watching TV is also helpful if done in moderation. Adding activites that are healthy and happy like dancing can add a lot of good happy hormones to your life, so I suggest those.
Please take care of yourself. You are valuable and important. This issue is really close to my heart as I have seen some loved ones suffering from it and I insist on everyone making an effort to be happy and peaceful. Rest will come in its own time. Don’t stress yourself about it.