What’s up with our culture constantly celebrating working non-stop and emphasizing that “sleep is for the weak or rich”? I have even heard some say, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.” LIES. No, you will kill yourself if you don’t sleep or practice self-care.
When the topic of self-care is discussed, most people automatically think about physical self-care practices such as mani/pedis, exercising, and face masks. But there’s more to self-care than face masks and drinking water (though you should drink plenty of water and mind ya business all 2019).
Many self-care practices ensure our mind, body, and soul are ultimately thriving. Since we are most familiar with ways of taking care of our bodies, whether we choose to practice them or not, I decided to focus on five self-care practices for the mind.
As apart of self-care, mindfulness is an important topic to discuss. Mindfulness is about being present in the moment rather than stressing and overthinking future moments that are not even guaranteed to happen.
Now, *PAUSE*, I don’t know about you all, but I know I have struggled with mindfulness especially as a 20 something year old that feels like I have to try and multitask to get everything done. I overthink EVERYTHING. I am learning to take one thing at a time and stop overthinking so much that I don’t get to enjoy the present moment. I must go with the flow and roll with the punches, especially because life doesn’t always go as planned. With that being said, mindfulness is an essential element of practicing self-care. So, now that mindfulness is the foundation of this post let’s talk about five self-practices for the mind.
5 Self-Care Practices for the Mind
DISCLAIMER: As I focus on self-care practices for the mind, that does not mean that these practices cannot be used for the body or soul. Also, self-care looks different for everyone. Make sure you care for yourself in the best way that works for you as an individual.
1. Practice Gratitude
In a society where it’s so easy to be negative and complain about everything from work, bills, relationships, and even how we look, we must intentionally practice gratitude. We should wake up each day with a heart of gratitude and thanks for the many blessings we have rather than merely focusing on the things we may lack. If need be, write down five things you are grateful for each day and think about these things when something doesn’t go how you want it to during that day.
Here’s an example of five things I could write down:
I am grateful for…
- God’s protection over my family and friends
- Life and health
- Job/ Opportunities
- Education/knowledge
- Shelter
Similarly, positive affirmations are a great way to ensure we remain positive about ourselves rather than magnifying the negative things about us. Affirmations are short statements that are used to uplift and encourage someone.
For example:
- I am good enough.
- I am smart enough.
- I am successful.
You can write them on sticky notes, in the reminders of your phone, or even have them as your lock screen wallpaper. Keeping the affirmations in your face remind you to focus on positive thinking. Here are affirmation wallpapers I have made for myself to remind me to think positively.
2. Listen to Relaxing/ Uplifting Music.
Music can change the whole mood. Have you ever peeped how a particular song can switch up a whole vibe? For example, for my friends and me, Freaky Friday ft. Chris Brown came with a WHOLE vibe. We would be chillin’ in the car or our apartment and be hype singing the lyrics all loud and moving around like we were in the music video. For us, that song brought our mood to an all-time high. On the reverse, when I find myself sad or in my feelings, the one song that stayed on repeat was No Air by Jordin Sparks (ft. Chris Brown) (Side Note: I really love Breezy!). Anyways back to the point. I quickly realized when I was stressed or down, certain songs I listened to when I was happy and upbeat didn’t help relax or encourage me like the worships songs that were speaking life over me.
My go-to songs for relaxation or encouragement tend to worship songs from Bethel Music, Jesus Culture, or Hillsong. The lyrics to songs such as Pieces by Bethel Music resonate with me much and remind me of who I am and Whose I am. This music calms my cluttered my mind and helps me to think clearly. This music is encouraging and uplifts my spirits when I am feeling sad, lonely, or confused. Through this kind of music, God reminds me that He is always there to ensure I am taken care of by any means. I encourage everyone to have a worship playlist that’s calm and peaceful. This music can even be played while sleeping to help relax your mind and boost your rest. Check out Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, Pandora, or YouTube for all your musical needs.
3. Limit Social Media Usage.
Trust, I love using social media just as much as the next person, but I realize that limiting my daily social media use is a healthy practice. Social Media can be time-consuming and downright messy. Plus, you’d be surprised how much more productive you’d be if you didn’t give in to your temptation to check your social media every 30 minutes. Instead of trying to keep up with what everyone else is doing 25/8, try focusing, and accomplishing what you want to get done.
Remember, mindfulness is vital in achieving a daily task. So much of our time is spent on mindless activities such as scrolling social media, so let’s set some limits and change that. Again, don’t get me wrong; social media isn’t bad, but also too much of a good thing can become bad.
4. Read a Book.
Reading is an excellent way to relieve some stress, and it also allows your imagination to run wild. I LOVE reading books, and I just recently started listening to audiobooks. Don’t sleep on audiobooks! At first, I didn’t think I could pay attention to an audiobook, but boy I was wrong! I have listened to 6 audiobooks in a matter of 2-3 days. For audiobooks, check out your local library or use a subscription base like Audible. Whether you choose to read or listen to a book, go ahead and check out one of my favorite books, The Hate U Give (THUG) by Angie Thomas. THUG is a must read!
Books are a healthy way to take time for yourself. There are so many books that can be read for leisure and personal enjoyment. I know it can be easy to think of reading as an annoying activity since we have to do it all the time in school. But best believe there are some great authors out there that write books that will keep you wanting to read more.
5. Talk to Someone.
Maybe you’re probably like well, I talk to my mama, aunty, uncle, cousin, sister, or best friend all the time. Maybe, you’re like “Nah, I can’t talk to anyone because they talk too much, or I don’t really want anyone in my business.” Well, let me stop you right there. If there is anything, I remember from my time in youth group, I remember my youth pastor, PJ Canterbury, always saying, “you can’t do life alone.” He is right. We weren’t made to do life alone. We were made for two kinds of relationships––––– a vertical relationship with God and horizontal relationships with people. I had to learn that though I would seek counsel from God, friends, and family, it was okay to seek counsel elsewhere as well.
I remember when I first took it upon myself to seek counseling from the counseling center at my college. I was so nervous even to walk in because I did not know what to expect. However, I did not want to continue to let the fear of the unknown hold me back. Yeah, you know the kind of fear I wrote about in my Breaking Up with My Fears blog post.
The counselor was so calm and welcoming, and she quickly assured me our talk was confidential, and she wouldn’t judge. That was one of the best decisions I ever made, especially with all the stressors I had in my life. She was able to give me a different perspective and allowed me to talk freely. I believe it is healthy to talk to someone and be heard! Check out counseling services on your campus (if you’re a college student), at your church, or in your community. Trust me! It’s worth it! But if you decide, you’re not ready for verbal communication just yet, try written communication like journaling. Journaling is a great way to release what you may be feeling inside. I personally love using my phone notes like my journal.
6. Treat Yo Self
Know it is okay to treat yo self! Treating yourself doesn’t always gotta involve money. It could mean you are deciding to remain in your PJs and sleep, guilt-free all day long. It could mean a beach day, especially in this Florida heat! You know you best, so make sure your treat is something you really enjoy. Give yourself time to exhale and celebrate your small accomplishments. Remember, Self-care is a NECESSITY, not a luxury.
So, these are just five practices to help you develop your habit of mindfulness, but there are other ways that people practice self-care. What’re your favorite methods? Drop them in the comments below! I’d love to hear them!
