Read the “Typical Tips” below OR Go to “Those We Support.” Go to Tracy Firth, “What Truly Matters to You?” Go to Carson Flockhart “Understanding the Challenges of Therapy”
Everyone has challenges
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Typical Tips to Boost Your Mental Health
Self-Awareness
- The ability to notice your thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and bodily cues-without judgment.
- “This is what I’m feeling,” and “This is what I need.”
Practices: Journaling, mindfulness, therapy, and check-ins.
Emotional Regulation
- Being able to soothe, express, or sit with big emotions without getting swept away. This isn’t about control-it’s about companionship with your feelings.
Practices: Breathwork, grounding techniques, naming emotions, co-regulation with safe others.
Make reflection and contemplation a priority
I’ve come to understand that taking breaks every 90 minutes throughout our work day, then similarly timed breaks again in our personal life builds emotional and cognitive strength. Feeling strong physically is great, but feeling strong cognitively and emotionally is super fantastic. Reflect and learn from your past, then contemplate, plan and strategize for your future. Plato and Aristotle believed there was nothing more important in life.Connection & Belonging
- We are wired for connection. Isolation breeds shame and distress.
- Mental health flourishes in spaces where we feel seen, safe, an accepted.
Practices: Nurture close relationships. Repair ruptures. Create community.
Make meaningful relationships a priority
Why are relationships important anyway? I can’t say why they should be important to you, but there is something healing about opening up and talking with another person, such as a psychologist. Your most valuable relationships are often the ones you take for granted. A problem of our busy culture. Don’t let this happen to you.
Resilience & Flexibility
- The capacity to bounce back from setbacks without breaking.
- Resilience is built through micro-recoveries, and flexible thinking helps us grow through hardship.
Practices: Reframing, self-compassion, adaptive routines, spiritual grounding.
Stay active
We all know that being active may have beneficial results. Staying active equates with feeling energized. Being active generates energy and having energy makes enjoying activities easier and more enjoyable. Even tidying up, for example, can make us feel releived and organized. Plus, we may feel accomplished and confident.Talk with a professional
Organizing your thoughts will help you to feel more organized and self-confident. Feeling better means you’re likely to make better choices and smarter decisions. I am available for virtual and in-person sessions.
Appeal to your senses
Aesthetics can be a spiritual experience. Beauty and excellence – visual and auditory – can inspire us. I love running to my favorite running tracks, selected specifically to energize me. When I actively listen to my body, it becomes spiritual.Take up a relaxation practice
Meditation has a relaxing impact and often leads us in the direction of creativity. Nothing has been more effective for me in creating an ideal lifestyle, except perhaps, aligning my day-to-day choices and decisions with my most meaningful values.
Watch your sleep habits
Too much sleep? Too little sleep? These days, most of us sleep too little. We are trying to get more out of every day. Let’s do our best with these and any other tips we can think of. Consider being more self-disciplined.
Eat a brain-healthy diet to support strong mental health.
Most of us struggle to eat healthfully because unhealthy food surrounds us and is easy to get while healthy foods are much more difficult to come by, consume and enjoy.
Key Takeaways
- Everyone faces challenges and sometimes needs help, so accessing support is vital.
- To improve your mental health, focus on self-awareness, emotional regulation, and connection with others.
- Practices include mindfulness, journaling, nurturing relationships, and talking with professionals.
- Staying active, eating a brain-healthy diet, and maintaining good sleep habits also contribute to mental well-being.
- Consider utilizing free resources and professional services to enhance your mental health journey.
Anton Psychology & Associates is located downtown at 330 – 5th Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 0L4. Schedule your appointment today. 403-263-5543 or click above to book a 60-minute session for yourself