How to Really Rest?
Rest and mental health are intimately connected. People who are trying to improve their mental health often think about things that make them feel relaxed.
Taking time to slow down, breathe, and re-center yourself can help mitigate the feeling of being overwhelmed. Letting the stress build up can not only bring forth feelings of anxiety and depression but also, can affect your physical health as well.
For many, relaxing is easier said than done, but we’ve got some tips on how to make your rest time, well, feel like rest. Read on for some helpful tips on how to rest.
The Consequences of Not Getting Enough Rest
Some of the minor consequences include fatigue and exhaustion, irritability, mood changes and difficulty focusing and remembering. However, the major consequences are much more dangerous; they include health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack, heart failure, stroke, obesity, depression and immunity issues.
Restful Techniques
Cultivate Healthy Habits
Exercise reduces the adverse effects of stress, improves mood, and regulates neurotransmitters and other hormones. Try restful movements like yoga or stretching.
Practice Sleep Hygiene
Getting adequate sleep is vital for physical and mental health. Often, good sleep starts with good habits. Practice sleep hygiene by optimizing your sleep schedule, pre-bed routine, and daily routines—doing so will make quality sleep automatic.
Do a tech check
Technology can be great for helping you feel connected, but if you’re using it a lot then it can contribute to making you feel busy and stressed. Taking a break can help you relax, even if it is only short.
Organize things
Try to provide yourself with activities that bring comfort and control sensation over reality, like cleaning or organizing your living space, starting with small areas or sections, for the week, or archiving documents. Achieving even small victories are still victories.
Relax your Senses by Seeing Green
Human beings have a natural affinity for elements of nature, which has the innate ability to heal our body and mind, as well as improve our mood and help us feel more relaxed. Taking strolls in gardens and green spaces are ways to improve our overall well-being. They evoke a sense of serenity and inner peace that heals the mind, body and soul and allows one to set aside some time for self-reflection.
Ask for help
The ways to relax suggested in this article may not always be enough. Sometimes, anxiety, tension, and worrying can be overpowering and are no longer under your control.
In those cases, booking an appointment is a must with a mental health provider. Dr. Carla is skilled with tools and knowledge capable of helping you cope and face the more negative, complicated feelings and thoughts.
