Happy Mental Health Awareness month! I hope you have been viewing all the mental health content on my YouTube channel and Facebook page. I’m planning to do a video answering questions and talking about topics of interest. Please send me your questions and topics via social media or my website contact page.

What have you been doing for your mental health this month? Not sure what to do, check out a few of my suggestions.

·       Prioritize your physical health

·       Set and maintain boundaries

·       Ask for and accept help

·       Incorporate physical movement in your day

·       Include healthy (or healthier) food items regularly

·       Nurture your relationships

·       Take breaks

·       Plan fun activities

·       Practice gratitude

·       Follow a bedtime routine

·       Consistently attend therapy and support groups

·       Engage in faith practices and interact with your community

·       Volunteer

·       Be involved in creative activities

The list goes on and on. Of course, you don’t need to do everything on the list. I challenge you to choose one and be consistent.

Benefits of focusing on your mental health:

·       Better physical health and functioning

·       Ability to handle life’s challenges

·       Improved relationships

·       Enhanced decision making

·       Improved perspective and focus

·       Increase in clarity and productivity

·       Better self-awareness and self-confidence

·       Improved quality of life

Now tell me none of these things sound good to you. And I can add so many more to the list. That’s why I’m so passionate about mental health.

Let's talk about one way to help yourself. Previously, I shared how much I love this African proverb.

Even the lion protects himself against flies.

There is so much we can learn from the lion. Basically, the meaning is we shouldn’t ignore small problems, tasks, irritations, or inconveniences. In life, we can become so busy we ignore or don’t prioritize the seemingly small things, the less urgent things. Unfortunately, many times when we don’t handle them it can have detrimental consequences.

Keep putting off returning a friend’s call and the friendship can be damaged.

Minor body pain, if left untreated, can become a serious health concern.

Not cleaning the clutter off a table can lead to missing important information.

Avoiding tedious work tasks can cause hours of work later when it’s time to relax.

Often times, we don’t realize how neglecting these things can negatively impact our overall well-being.

A friendship being damaged:

·       Sadness or anger

·       Reduces your support network

·       Loneliness

A serious health concern:

·       Worry and fear

·       Financial strain

·       Lifestyle changes

Missing important information:

·       Missed opportunities

·       Late bills and fees

·       Disruption in routines

Late work hours

·       Burnout

·       Decrease quality in work

·       Conflict with co-workers

I know there are no guarantees that these things will happen, but what if they do? I much rather take care of small things to avoid the potential consequences.

Pause and reflect. Is it possible that the consequences you experienced could have been avoided or minimized by you taking a small action?

Strategy is key. I love a good strategy. The strategy can be simple. Sometimes we need a strategy to help us take care of the small things. Think of it like a plan. And it doesn’t have to be a multi-step plan.

Keep putting off returning a friend’s call – Call the friend while you are waiting for your kid to get out of practice.

Minor body pain – Plan to call first thing Monday morning and tell someone about it so they can hold you accountable.

Not cleaning the clutter off a table – set a timer for 15-minute increments to sort and return things to their proper place.

Avoiding tedious work tasks – set a block of time when you’re at your best to complete.

These are just examples of how to tackle the small things. Maybe none of these work for you and that’s okay. What has worked in the past? Brainstorm with someone to help you figure out what works best for you.

What are your flies? Choose one, identify the strategy, and take action.

I can’t end this blog without sharing how I have been caring for myself and how I have been advocating and supporting others during Mental Health Awareness month. First, for me, I have been working on improving my bedtime routine. I got a little off track and I can tell. Sleep helps my mood, my work functioning, and my interactions in my personal life. Secondly, I have been enjoying fun activities. I plan to walk outside more now because the pollen is not as terrible. Thirdly, I have been setting and maintaining boundaries.

Here’s how I am supporting and advocating for mental health:

·       Showing up for work ready to help clients

·       Mental health videos on social media

·       My new digital course, Loving Yourself First (coming this month)

·       Attending events to raise awareness about mental health

·        Writing this blog (haha)

If you are not used to caring for yourself or prioritizing yourself, I understand how hard it can be to start or stay consistent. Remember We Can Do Hard Things and remind yourself of the benefits.

Until Next Time Take Care,

Darsha D!