2018 was the year we saw a strong surge of mental health awareness. This continued to grow for the next couple of years….and them BAM, 2020 hit, and basically slammed the breaks on all things life. We were secluded in our homes for months on end, we formed terrible habits like chronic Netflix binging and Pantry raids became the norm because there was nothing else we could do. Now, here it is, the Spring of 2021, and folks are starting to realize that perhaps quarantine health conditions aren’t the best conditions–all starting with habits. Often, creating the habit of healthy lifestyles starts with taking care of one’s mental and emotional health. Hopefully, with vaccinations and group immunity, people can come back to the realization that one of the keys to maintaining a healthy body is to have a healthy mind.
So let’s make 2021 focus be on creating healthy lifestyles through physical activities and a focus on mental health awareness to improve overall well being. Learning a few habits that will promote and improve your mental health will be a great start to your new healthier pursuits.
1. Exercise
The secret to a sound body is a sound mind. But it could also work both ways. The secret to a sound mind is a sound body. It might not work for everybody, but for a majority of able-bodied people, a great way to boost endorphins is to go out and move. Find an exercise that you love. You don’t need to do what everyone else is doing. Some people prefer lifting weights, we like yoga and Pilates, while some even run marathons. The most important thing is that you continue to come back to your exercise regularly!
If you are struggling to exercise due to pain or health conditions, making sure you are doing the right exercises to avoid making your pain levels worse is advisable, even if it means doing gentler, less strenuous workouts. Trying Pilates and yoga can ease you back into your workouts in a more mindful and positive way.
Pain relief products such as Kratom can assist your healing process to reduce your pain levels and help you get back to still exercise without pain.
2. Gratefulness
Right now, probably more than ever, being thankful for the things you have instead of focusing on the things you don’t is a good way to bring positive energy into your life. We now know what it is like to be truly isolated. Living during lockdowns forced us to sit with ourselves and recognize how truly blessed we are to have our freedoms. The lockdowns made us realize how lucky we are to have the things we have. Practicing the habit of being grateful will help you become a more positive person. At Thrive, we believe a great way to practice gratefulness is by actively giving back to the community. What better way to celebrate how grateful we are than by giving back to others in our community! That’s why we offer monthly (and oftentimes more) opportunities for you to practice yoga and give back! These opportunities include Goat Yoga, Kitten and Puppy Yoga, monthly Restorative Yoga Give Back campaigns and free classes across town (weather permitting). Remembering your practice, and letting that practice be something that can help you give back can truly make a difference in your mental health.
3. Be kind
Be the person you wish other people would be to you. Make someone’s day by smiling at them, or helping them carry a heavy load, or even just opening the door for someone who has their hands full. A bit of kindness paid forward will cultivate a world of kindness. It doesn’t take much to make others smile. The next time that person cuts in front of you at the light, let’s try not saying something terrible about them, but instead, practice kindness and maybe send them extra love.
4. Sleep
Get enough sleep. Sleep can do wonders for a tired mind and body. Get the right amount of sleep in order to feel rested and ready to tackle your day, every day. Put your screen away close to bedtime and concentrate on relaxing, maybe do a couple of relaxing stretches to help you unwind. Give your body and mind the time to recover and recuperate. Sometimes you may need a little help managing the stress and anxiety that seems to want to pervade our lives today, well guess what? CBD oil has helped manage anxiety and can help you relax enough to get more and better sleep!
5. Hang out with friends
Socialize. Even the most introverted person has someone they prefer to hang around with. It does wonderful things to your soul to share your time with the people that matter. When you make friends with others at your favorite yoga studio, you’ll be able to gain accountability partners, empathetic ears, and will have even more motivation to continue your practice–even on cold, rainy, less than optimal sleep days. You’ll have the opportunity to be with friends (new and old) in our Summer of Popups. Find them on our Special Events Page.
6. Chocolate
Now..you KNOW I had to add Chocolate into this. Chocolate is just the most magical snack…since, well, ever, BUT–coming soon to the studio is something even more magical…Chocolate with CBD!
One type of Chocolate to try is Therapeutic Chocolate with Cannabidiol (CBD) oil. Cannabinoids are non-psychoactive and can reduce anxiety. If you are looking to incorporate CBD into your diet, but is not very much of a fan of its earthy taste, chocolate is the way to go. Cannabinoids are found to keep the body in neutral state, and support the functions of the brain, as well as the central and peripheral nervous system. Get your chocolate fix for the day, and get CBD’s benefits while you’re at it.
7. Laugh
When they said laughter is the best medicine, they were not kidding. Laughter helps ease stress and anxiety. Hang out with a funny friend, or watch a comedy show. Or maybe learn a few jokes and share them with your friends. Laughter is one of those things that multiply when shared.
8. Eat well
A few desserts won’t hurt you any but for the most part, feed your body the things it should be fed. Eat a healthy and balanced diet. This will ensure your body will feel healthy and will give you less things to stress or worry about. Avoid things that will harm your body like smoking or excessive drinking. If you would like information on nutritional coaching, consider training with Jennifer Dixon in our Thrive Elite training. You will learn how to create a sustainable healthy diet and workout plan catered just for you and your needs!
9. Love yourself
Tell yourself something nice every day. Most people are generous with giving away compliments to others but are stingy when it comes to themselves. Start your day by giving yourself a sincere compliment. It could be something simple like “oh my skin looks very nice today”. Or “I do make an amazing omelet.” And develop this into a daily habit. Because loving yourself will allow you to love others more freely.
10. Meditate
Give your mind a chance to empty itself out of the negative energy that is pervasive in the world. Give your mind the space to breathe and relax. And as you relax your mind, you relax your body. Meditation is a great way to connect your mind and your body into one plane. It is a good way to relax and to relieve yourself of any stress that you may have. Meditation also complements therapy.
We have an excellent opportunity for you to learn how to meditate coming up February 2nd as the first of a series of guided meditation classes. Merrit Plumb will be guiding us through a 60 minute meditation class that will leave you feeling refreshed and ready for the rest of 2019! Make sure you reserve your spot today!
This article first appeared on MadebyHemp and was later edited to be incorporated into our blog.