For years, I neglected my mental health. I was just operating on autopilot and mental wellness wasn’t a priority for me.
I was anxious. I was depressed. I was frustrated and downright miserable. But even those feelings weren’t enough to push me to focus more on my mental health.
I would exercise and attend my annual physical exams to make sure I was keeping my physical body in order but my mental health wasn’t in check. And it was only worsening.
It wasn’t until I had my first child that I realized things had completely spun out of control and I needed to get myself in order. And it all started with doing the inner work.
Fast forward to the present day. Not only is my mental wellness a high priority, I actually have an entire mental wellness routine I like to stick to. Today, I will be sharing this routine with you to give you a glimpse into how I maintain my sanity through all the madness and cater to my mental health.
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We place such a great emphasis on physical health, and yet your mental health is an integral part of your physical health. So why not prioritize it in the same way?
Neglecting your mental health only harms your quality of life and disrupts the lives of those around you. When gone unchecked, this can spiral out of control and can be damaging in so many ways.
So instead of letting things spiral out of control before you decide to take action, be proactive and make mental wellness a high priority in your daily routine.
My Mental Health Routine
As promised, I will be sharing my own mental health routine. My routine focuses on the whole self as I reconnect my mind and body and emphasize mindfulness. So let’s take a deeper look at this routine.
Checking in With Myself
At the end of each day, I do a self-check-in. I typically do this during my bedtime routine which I’ll discuss more later. But I’ll jot down the answer to the following questions in my journal after I get the girls in bed.
What went well today?
What could’ve gone better today?
What will I do differently tomorrow (if anything)?
Taking the time out to address these questions helps me to identify any areas of concern that may have otherwise gone unnoticed. It also helps me to create a plan of action to remedy any concerns.
Sometimes it’s the tiniest of problems that build up into a massive concern so, the earlier we can catch and address those tiny problems, the better.
Studies have shown that deficiencies in nutrients such as Omega-3FAs, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Folate, Niacin, and Vitamin D can all impact your mental wellness.
I always recommend working alongside your physician to identify and address any nutritional deficiencies. It can be difficult (and dangerous) to make this determination on your own.
Getting Daily Exercise
Exercise is part of my daily routine. I am a certified yoga teacher and my husband is a personal trainer. So I get my workouts in a variety of ways.
Typically, I do a morning workout with my Husband Monday-Thursday. Friday mornings are reserved for my mobility exercises and stretching. I don’t have a set fitness routine on the weekends, but I often try to squeeze in physical activities with the family such as skating, bowling, taking a simple walk, swimming, dancing, or hiking.
Getting this extra movement helps me to connect my mind and body and release that pent-up energy and any stress.
I briefly mentioned my bedtime routine earlier but I would like to dive into it a little more.
It wasn’t until I suffered from a brief period of insomnia that I realized the importance of having a bedtime routine to help my mind and body wind down for the evening.
My bedtime routine looks like this.
Take a shower. I love to use lavender and/or chamomile soap or body wash.
Take out my clothes for the morning.
Prep my bedroom by turning on my air purifier (my husband has really bad allergies that seem to get aggravated at night so this is mostly for him), turning down the lights, and turning on my essential oil diffuser/humidifier.
Brush my teeth for the evening and get into the bed.
Do my end-of-the-day self-check-in (mentioned earlier) and journaling .
Once I take that evening shower and start prepping my room for the night, my brain automatically senses that it’s time to rest.
Sticking to this routine helps me to get to sleep quicker and to get better quality sleep throughout the night.
Taking Time for a Digital Detox
I schedule a digital detox twice a month. I am working my way up to doing a digital detox more often but right now, this is where I’m at with it.
Putting my phone on do not disturb and taking a break from the internet and screen time has done wonders for my mental health and is now one of my favorite activities.
This is a great opportunity to catch up on some reading. Here are some of my favorite books to read for mental wellness:
31 Books on My Mental Wellness Reading List
Please note: The books are listed in no particular order. The first book on the list is just as awesome as the last book on the list. 🙂
When I say “de-clutter my life,” I literally mean getting rid of anything or ANYONE that no longer serves me. I regularly schedule time out to de-clutter my home, car, and digital devices. And yes, I even cut people out of my life if they’re toxic or bringing me down in any way. It is what it is, and I no longer feel guilty about doing this.
Making Self-Care Part of My Daily Routine
One of the greatest takeaways from my mental wellness routine is that it allows me to make my self-care a priority each day — something I neglected for way too long.
I now understand that in order for me to be a great Mom, a great wife, and just overall the best version of myself, I have to learn to prioritize ME.
What are some things you would include in your mental health routine? Do you already do some of the activities mentioned in this article? Feel free to share in the comments below.
Briana Marie is a mental health and financial literacy advocate, and founder of Major League Mommy. In her spare time, Briana enjoys yoga, travel, and spending time with her Husband and two daughters.
