“I can’t afford to lose my job or take time off work to seek mental health treatment is there anything I can do”
YES!!!!! Your mental health and self care is free. Just because you have a strict schedule, job, or boss doesn’t mean you can’t practice self care. Having a lack of resources at your finger tips won’t hinder you from developing good self care habits. You’ve taken the first step in acknowledging you need and want a better care for yourself. Right now you have an abundance of resources it’s just how you use them.
First, you can pretend like you do have a therapist and journal. Journaling For Mental Health, TRY IT This is free of cost, free for your spirit and the first step to acknowledging your honest true feelings and emotions. To journal you can purchase a notebook for less than a dollar. If you want to throw in some extra couple bucks, purchase some affirmation stickers to decorate it for less than $3. (This is what my daughter did, and her notebook is so pretty and tailored to her.) Now you have a personalized journal that gives you positive affirmations and thoughts to repeat before opening and pouring your heart out. Once you have a journal begin with what sparked you to want a better mental health. 7 HEALING JOURNAL PROMPTS FOR A PEACEFUL WEEK What are the triggers, event, or persons behind your emotions?
As you begin to heal and grow, you can opt to save for a really good journal that will help you develop all around wellness. Try this beautiful journal that’s less than $10 to get you started when you’ve saved enough to purchase it. https://amzn.to/3HaANwQ
Next, you can use your phone that’s at your finger tips to get daily motivation. Make a decision and choice to ONLY seek positive content. Once you only click or search positive content the algarithm will then flood your feed with that content. It has worked for me and I can truly say it helps to not even see a negative title or headline. YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram has some amazing quotes, scriptures, passages, reminders, and hope to keep you fueled thoughout the day. Also begin to distance yourself or limit your interactions with those who aren’t feeding you like you want to be fed. Your motivation and encouragement doesn’t just have to come from digital. That one person that only calls, text, or have a negative story isn’t good for your mental health. Delete social media if you have too. ALL MY SOCIAL MEDIA APPS DELETED
Thirdly, focus on you. Wake up a little early. Make sure you look good and feel good about your appearance before heading out. Focus on your physical health. Do some walking, gardening, hiking, biking, or any activity to keep your body moving. Exercise and sweat out some toxins. Schedule in your activity. Create a schedule for the week, month, and day. Have an outline of what you have to do. This ensures you aren’t overwhelmed, you can make time for yourself, and still being productive at work and at home. The schedule is free because you can create it on your phone. Schedule your meals, activity, laundry, cleaning day, and this will give you something to hold yourself accountable. If you can use resources at work, email it to yourself and print it. The schedule is also a good way for you to begin to create boundaries and say NO!!!!!! Saying no and creating boundaries is free.
The fourth thing you can do to get a handle on your mental health is seek a spiritual community. Having a community of people to share, pray, and worship is the best way to filter out the bad and keep the good. If you choose to worship on Sunday in person that is great, but you can also do so using the phone you already have. The first I thing I do every morning is have time with God. In the form of music, a sermon on youtube, or me having my own prayer session. Get rooted in faith and hope.
The fifth is to use your time wisely. While you’re on break at work you can journal, listen to a podcast, read a book, or watch a quick motivational video. Opt to have lunch alone so you can get what you need without judgement, interruptions, or criticism. If you are cooking dinner, listen to a sermon on youtube. Find an inspiration channel that feeds your soul. When I clean and do laundry I put my earbuds in and let the universe speak to me. You are moving and getting exercise, while feeding your mind with positive energy, and getting things done on your list. All of this is free and good for your mental health. You’ve developed habits.
The sixth free thing you can do for your mental health is develop routines. A good morning routine to get your day started. This will ensure you are in a good headspace to conquer the day. Even when things seem to go sour, you’ll have tools and motivation in your spiritual bank to pull from. Next a good night routine to wind yourself down. How was your day? What didn’t you like that you can work on? What was good about the day? Release it to make room for a clear slate the next day. MID WEEK MENTAL HEALTH REMINDERS
Lastly, give yourself permission to feel. You will have good days and some bad days until your habits become second nature. But continue to push through and work through it. Each bump in the road is a teaching moment. Don’t ignore them. Listen to them and ask yourself why am I reacting this way or feeling this way. The good news is because you did this on your own without seeking a paid counselor the reward in understanding and growth will be just that much greater.
RosalynLynn
Be you so you can be free.
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