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World Mental Health Day 2022 – Our self-care top 10 tips
October 10, 2022
Self-care is an essential part of maintaining positive mental (and physical) health, it can reduce the impact of negative emotions like depression anxiety, and stress.
To celebrate World Mental Health Day 2022, here are 10 ways you can practice self-care:
Get to know yourself. Self-care is all about taking care of YOU. Spend some time finding out what can trigger positive and negative responses for your mental health, this can help with navigating future experiences and help you appreciate the little things which make you smile and avoid future negative situations.
Rest and relax. Make time for yourself to wind down and enjoy a break with some low-stress activities and a good night’s sleep. This could be taking a warm bath, doodling, baking, meditating, or listening to music/podcasts.
Treat yourself. Make yourself feel special and appreciate your efforts. Whether it be cooking your favourite meal, finally buying those shoes, or a well-deserved sleep-in and lazy day, be sure to reward yourself for the good things you do no matter how small. Every accomplishment should be celebrated.
Keep Active. Find physical activities you enjoy and make them a part of your life. You could take your dog for a walk, go swimming, try some yoga at home, or do anything else you enjoy that gets you moving!
Comfort Box. For the days when you are low or overwhelmed create a box of comforting items. It could include a soft blanket, photos of happy memories, fidget toys, candles, snacks, craft supplies, calming tea, face masks, or anything else which will help you feel relaxed and help you handle any negative or distressing feelings.
Say NO sometimes. It can be easy to overwhelm and/or overwork yourself, especially if you are taking too much on. Learning when to say “no” is one of the self-care tips that people have the most trouble with because we don’t want to disappoint others but burning ourselves out is ultimately worse and needs to be avoided. It can sometimes help to make a to-do list and only take on what you can handle.
Plan to have fun. Arrange a trip, a day out or put something fun in your diary, even if it’s as simple as visiting a friend or family member. Having something to look forward to can help you to look positively at the future and give you something enjoyable and productive to plan in your spare moments.
Learn a new skill. Sometimes throwing yourself into a new hobby can help improve your mental health. Research shows that learning new skills can boost self-confidence and raise self-esteem. It can also help you to build a sense of purpose and connect you with new people.
Stay Connected. Keep in touch with those who can support you in tough times, whether that be family, friends, mental health professionals, or anyone else you can turn to when times are hard. Sometimes we just need an ear to listen to or a shoulder to cry on and having trusted and supportive individuals can help take a weight off your shoulders. There is also a variety of local organisations and support groups including Mind and Talking Changes whom you can contact for mental health support if you are struggling.
At Middlesbrough College, we take mental health very seriously. We understand that our students may be going through difficulties in their lives, which could as a result have an impact on their students.
We run a free, confidential counselling service for all students. Please get in touch if you need support in any way. You can seek support from the service for a range of issues, including relationship problems, anger management, domestic abuse, and low self-esteem. We can also offer help with more college related struggles, such as studying, stress and dissatisfaction.
For more information on any of the support on offer or to make an appointment, contact:
Emma Betiku, Co-ordinator of Counselling, Wellbeing and IAPT
Tel: 01642 333868 / 07919 394697