These are cold winter months, with the holiday season bringing more stress than usual. With so many things to do in so little time, it might be tricky to find time to take care of yourself. However, that is your most important task during these months. You have got to take care of yourself to get through the stressful times. Here are ten mental health hacks to help you through these cold months.
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Get at least eight hours of sleep every night
It is crucial to get plenty of sleep during the winter. The days are shorter and nights are colder, which can make it harder to go to bed on time and stay asleep all night long. It might be hard at first, but you should try to get eight hours of sleep every night because this will make you feel much better during the day.
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Use your downtime wisely
With less daylight and more snow, there is a lot of downtime in December and January. You can use that extra time doing things that will help you relax and feel better about yourself. Try a little bit of baking, a self-care video on YouTube, or a few minutes in the Jacuzzi.
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Practice mindfulness and meditation
This can be especially helpful in January when you have to face that dreaded mid-winter slump. It is going to suck no matter what, but it will get easier if you practice mindfulness and meditation. There are many apps for both iOS and Android that make practicing these habits easy and effective.
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Make time for exercise every day
Exercise helps with mental health issues like anxiety and depression, which can flare up during the winter months because of the cold weather and lack of sunlight (SAD – seasonal affective disorder). You don’t have to go to a gym every day, but you should try to make time for some exercise every day.
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Set healthy boundaries with your family and friends
You might be pressured into doing more events in December and January than you would the rest of the year. Being around people all the time can get hard when everything is stressful, so it’s important to set some firm boundaries with your friends and family. You don’t have to say goodbye forever, but you need some alone time to reset yourself before diving back into social gatherings again.
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Schedule some “me time”
This is especially important in December and January when you need to relax more than usual because of all the stress. You are allowed to have breaks from everything, so don’t be afraid to take some “me time” every once in a while. Go for a walk alone, read your favorite book, or watch one of your favorite movies.
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Create a self-care kit
A self-care kit can give you peace of mind in hectic times. Whenever you feel stressed out or anxious about anything, just pull it out and remind yourself that there are easy ways to take care of yourself without much effort. Put together an emergency kit with things like face masks bubble baths, chocolate bars, and your favorite movies, and pull it out whenever you need to.
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Have a chat with your psychiatrist
This is extremely important if you are seeing one. Your psychiatrist in Bhopal can give you all the best advice for taking care of yourself in the cold winter months, so make sure that you ask them about it or schedule an appointment soon. They might recommend something specific like antidepressants, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), or exposure therapy.
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Read self-help books for better mental health
Another good way to learn more about mental health issues and how to take care of yourself is by reading self-help books. These are great because they usually have tons of information on how to best deal with problems like anxiety depression, etc., which makes it easy to learn something new to improve your mental health. It also helps you feel better because you are doing something productive, which always makes you feel good about yourself.
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Ask for help when you need it
Don’t be afraid to ask for help if the cold winter months are getting too stressful for you. If you push yourself too hard, things can get overwhelming quickly, so take care of yourself by asking for help when you need it. You might have to tap into your support network or friends and family, but it will make things easier in the long run.
That is all there is for this blog post! This may not be our most popular article, but we hope that this gives somebody practical information on dealing with life during these cold days.
