When we think of self-care, things like soaking in a bubble bath, booking a massage, and reading a good book typically come to mind. While these are all excellent self-care strategies to incorporate into our lives — particularly when we’re feeling stressed, anxious, and overworked — sometimes our self-care needs run much deeper.
If you’re struggling with managing negative thoughts and emotions, for instance, therapy sessions with one of the counselors at Ocean Vista Counseling may be a good self-care strategy to utilize for improved psychological well-being.
If you are stressing about money, talking to a financial advisor and building a financial plan for the future can help you to feel happier, healthier, and more in control of the state of your finances. To learn more about some of the self-care strategies that contribute to better mental health and happiness, please read on!
1. Talk to a Professional
A good form of self-care could include professional therapy services — especially if you’re suffering from anxiety, depression, or another mental health condition. While natural remedies like physical activity, mood-boosting supplements, meditation, and sunlight have been shown to alleviate some symptoms of depression, therapy gets to the root of your psychological distress.
If you’re concerned about the cost of psychotherapy but think you could benefit from talking to a counselor, therapist, or psychiatrist, check your medical insurance policy to see if these types of services are covered. Most private insurance plans will have a copayment per session that you would be responsible for. If you receive medical coverage under Medicare Part B, for instance, your policy will typically pay for professional counseling and psychotherapy services with licensed psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, or clinical social workers. However, it’s important to review your medical coverage annually and make adjustments to your policy as necessary.
2. Focus on Your Finances
If you’re like most Americans, your financial worries could be harming your psychological health and leading to worsened symptoms of anxiety, depression, and sleeplessness. However, caring for your wallet can help to curb some of your financial anxiety — especially if you focus on saving money for the future. Here are some tips for saving money, alleviating your financial-related anxieties, and improving your psychological well-being:
- Create or modify your personal budget
- Meet with a financial advisor to discuss your financial goals and plans
- Start building an emergency savings fund
- Cut unnecessary spending
- Set a few short- and long-term savings goals, such as saving for a vacation or a down payment on a home
3. Nourish Your Mind and Body
For optimal psychological health and well-being, it’s also important to consume a nutritious, well-balanced diet that includes a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and whole grains. Mood-boosting foods like carrots, beets, beans, cabbage, avocados, and bananas have been scientifically proven to alleviate symptoms of depression — and they can help to boost your physical health and well-being as well.
In addition to eating plenty of depression-fighting fruits and veggies, physical activity could help to regulate your mood, increase your energy levels, and boost your psychological well-being. According to Harvard Health Publishing, you could start with just five minutes of physical activity per day and work your way up from there — especially if you’re lacking the motivation you need to get moving.
As you can see, reaching out to a therapy service such as Ocean Vista Counseling, taking control of your finances, and nourishing your mind and body with healthy foods and movement can all help to improve your psychological health and well-being. However, other changes to your lifestyle — like spending more time outdoors and making sure you’re getting plenty of quality sleep — are just as important to your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. By incorporating various types of self-care practices into your daily routine, you’ll be living your happiest, healthiest life in no time at all.