Happy Women’s History Month: How to be the Master of your own Mental Health

Happy Women’s History Month!

Did you know that a woman’s mental health needs went unrecognized by the medical community until the late 20th century!? For centuries women’s mental health issues were dismissed as made up, diagnosed as hysteria or attributed to witchcraft. 

It is no surprise that when it comes to mental health, women still tend to view themselves as overly emotional, over reactionary or out of control rather than a victim of patriarchal labeling. 

In honor of women’s history month, we invite you to be the master of your own mental health and try a few of the tips below. 

Prioritze Yourself:

Women have been conditioned to believe that taking care of themselves is selfish, so don’t be surprised if you feel guilt instead of relief when you put yourself first. Too often we rationalize our lack of prioritizing ourselves due to insufficient time. But we always find time to fit in the activities that are most important to us. And who could be more important than you?! 

Tip: Go through your schedule and plan something pleasurable and rejuvenating each day. Maybe it’s upgrading your skin care routine and really pampering yourself as you do so. Maybe its taking the afternoon off to let yourself dream and play like you did when you were a child. Maybe its returning to that beloved hobby that you haven’t had time for lately. It doesn’t need to be huge, it just needs to be intentional and desirable to you.

Update Your Mindset

Mindset is everything when it comes to how we feel about the world around us. For centuries women have been treated like second class citizens. This has deeply impacted a woman’s sense of value and worth, making life’s everyday challenges feel even more overwhelming. 

Remember that the feminine has an amazing ability to bring people together, generate creative solutions, offer compassion, ease tensions, heal wounds, and administer the truth in love… among other qualities. 

A woman who owns her feminine power is a force to be reckoned with!

Tip: Make a list of all the things you love about yourself, the things that make you a great partner, parent, friend, colleague, etc as well as the things that you’ve already accomplished. Read it every morning for at least 21 days, keeping track of how your mindset starts to shift. 

Journaling:

Perhaps the last time you journaled was when you were writing your secrets in a lock and key diary. But writing is extremely therapeutic. It provides an outlet for your feelings and can quiet the “monkey brain”. Writing vs typing slows down the mind and allows for the subconscious processes to emerge, which can be very insightful and helpful in processing emotions and revealing hidden thoughts and feelings. 

Tip: Journal in the morning if you’re looking to bring more order and focus in your day. Journal at night if you’re looking to process and celebrate what you’ve accomplished. 

Taking Care of Your Body:

80% of mental health issues would be resolved if we took better care of our bodies. Eating healthy, exercising regularly and getting enough sleep make most problems feel less overwhelming, goals feel more achievable and setbacks feel more temporary. 

Tip: If you’ve tried to change your habits in the past and failed, try breaking it down into smaller, more achievable steps. Keep in mind that actions are most likely to become habits when you do them for 21 consecutive days. Rewards go a long way in changing stubborn habits too so don’t forget to plan a reward for even the smallest movement forward.

If you would like more informative life tips, or need help implementing them, our therapists are here to help!