About a year ago, an article written by Kevin Love, professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers, brought attention to the stigma that surrounds mental health, specifically in male athletes, but at the end of the article, the power forward reminds us that “mental health isn’t just an athlete thing. What you do for a living doesn’t have to define who you are. This is an everyone thing.”
We go to the gym and eat healthy meals to take care of our bodies, but Kevin Love is the prime example that one’s physical health is not always a reflection of their mental health. Below are some tips for keeping your mental health in tip-top shape.
Give Yourself a Break
You work hard! Recognize that and reward yourself with a relaxing break every now and then. Whether it’s taking a few days off from work to take a trip with family or friends or spending a Saturday doing something you enjoy like kicking back and catching a game, give yourself a mental break from your responsibilities by making time to do things that you enjoy. You’ll likely return feeling refreshed and motivated to work even harder.
Give Yourself Time
Sometimes we put ourselves under too much pressure due to a timeline that we have created in our heads. These mental timelines can make us feel like were failing, but it’s probably because they aren’t realistic. Most goals cannot be met overnight. When setting goals for ourselves, it is important to give yourself a realistic timeline for achieving them.
Give Yourself Credit
As we roll through the motions of life, we forget that we are accomplishing tasks and taking strides toward reaching our goals. Every now and then, take a step back and reflect on the things you’ve accomplished. It could be as simple as passing an exam you thought you were going to fail or getting praise from a supervisor on a project that took a lot of time and effort, or it could be as big as being promoted or saving enough money to buy your dream car. Whatever it may be, make sure you give yourself credit for your accomplishments.
Take Care of Your Mental Health
It is easy to forget that taking care of our minds requires a conscious effort, the same way that keeping our physical health intact does. Next time you’re feeling overwhelmed give yourself a break, time and credit!