Self-care matters especially when you’re struggling with mental health issues. Anything that can bring you comfort and a bit of pleasure during dark times should be prioritized. No one should feel guilty for looking after themselves.
Three basic ingredients to conquer your self-care are self-awareness, self-esteem and self-confidence. The first means that you must be silent and find time to listen to yourself and your needs. The second to respect these needs and thirdly is to commit that you will do your best in order to satisfy remaining steadfast to your goal.
Self-care isn’t always about pleasure, comfort or what feels good. It’s also about:
- Putting boundaries in with toxic people or walking away from people who do not treat you well, do not contribute to your development as people, and do not highlight the best aspect of yourself.
- Acting in alignment with your own values rather than other’s desires. In this way you set healthy boundaries and listen to your personal needs.
- Prioritizing your mental health above other obligations and taking a break when you start to feel burned out. Ask yourself now, what good have you done lately to improve your mental health?
- Doing the hard things that will set you up for the future you deserve to have. The strategy of avoiding stressful situations leads to maintain your problems and perpetuate a vicious circle in your life.
- Giving yourself time and space to process grief and loss. The goal is not to “get over” what has happened and just “move on with your life”, but to process essentially the facts and the loss.
- Forgiving yourself for a past mistake, especially once you have learned from them. Allow yourself to accept love, understanding and forgiveness.
- Learning to give yourself the love you so freely give to others. You need to see, appreciate and take advantage of your positive points and the opportunities that presented to you.
- Talking to yourselves like you would do to your best friend. This is a very simple way to be compassionate with yourself. What would you say to a good friend who is facing the same situation? You can use these skills for yourself.
- Seeing the positive side of every situation, even when you are surrounded by pure negativity. Research shows that optimistic people tend to deal with stressful situations more effectively than pessimists, who they may be feeling like is outside of their control and that nothing will change their situation.
- Learning to substitute every negative thought with a positive one. Whenever a negative thought comes to your mind try to find at least three positive elements in the situation you are experiencing.
The journey to loving yourself can be long and complex, but it is made up of a little change in habits. Congratulate yourself for doing these changes, you are not weak for any struggle you may have with them. You are strong for fighting through mental health issues every day.
