mental health: With all of the responsibilities we all have these days, it can be difficult to find time to take care of ourselves and invest our time in looking after our mental well-being. The huge price we all pay includes a huge negative impact on our mental health.
In an interview with Zee English, Nishtha Khurana, Counseling Psychologist, Lisun- a mental health and emotional wellness venture, shares effective ways in which you can practice self-care and stay stress-free.
We forget to take care of our personal needs when we are burdened with the many stresses of life such as: caring responsibilities, financial responsibilities, work stress etc. The biggest jolt we face in terms of balancing these aspects of our lives can make stress levels manageable for all of us.
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So how can self-care help us relieve stress?
When we are exhausted from physical and emotional exhaustion, we are less able to handle the stressors we face. Or, to put it more positively, when we are feeling our best physically and emotionally, we are more resilient and better able to handle life’s stresses.
1. Taking a break
Relaxing in a hot bubble tub or getting a massage can help you feel like you’re escaping stressful reality and taking a mental and emotional vacation. This triggers the relaxation response and allows you to come back to the reality of your life while feeling refreshed and relaxed. Physical influences play an important role in promoting mental health. During a massage session, the body releases endorphins, which are natural pain relievers and mood enhancers. These endorphins induce feelings of pleasure, reduce pain and create an overall sense of well-being.
2. Engage Your Senses
A good way to relax and find a sense of inner peace is to engage your senses. Consider taking a hot bath, lighting a scented candle, listening to soothing sounds, or drinking some herbal tea.
3. Alone Time
Different people have different personalities with their own qualities and individual differences; Different mental and emotional abilities. Therefore, alone time can be really helpful to recharge and provide us with a chance for self-reflection. Helpful in increasing our emotional and mental resilience to help us deal with stress better.
4. Assert yourself
You might want to do it all, but you can’t, at least not without paying a price. Learning to say no can help you manage your to-do list and stress.
Saying yes may seem like an easy way to keep the peace, prevent conflicts, and get things done right. But this can actually cause internal conflict for you as your needs may generally be second or none may feel compromised, leading to tension, anger, resentment. And it’s not a very peaceful response.
5. Be musical and be creative
Listening to or playing music is a good stress reliever because it can provide a mental distraction, reduce muscle tension, and reduce stress hormones. If music isn’t your thing, turn your attention to another hobby, like gardening, sewing, sketching – anything that requires you to focus on what you’re doing rather than what you’re doing. Think what you should do.
6. Get Counseling
If new stressors are challenging your ability to cope or if self-care measures are not relieving your stress, therapy or counseling may be a good idea. If you feel overwhelmed or trapped, if you worry excessively, or if you have trouble completing daily routines or meeting responsibilities at work, home, or school, therapy may also be a good idea. .
Professional counselors or therapists can help you identify sources of your stress and learn new tools for coping.