It's Mental Health Day, What are you doing to keep your stress levels low?

It's Mental Health Day! I'm excited to do my part in mental health awareness and share some of the tools I use for managing stress.

Do things you enjoy and make time for laughter.

Your body and mind need a break. If you are feeling overwhelmed, take some time for yourself. Do things that make you happy and enjoy life. READ A BOOK! (Our favorite are PaperPie Books)

Laughter is also a great way to release tension and keep your stress levels low. Take time to laugh and find humor in everyday situations.

Stay positive, even when it's hard.

It's easy to get discouraged about a situation when you're feeling down, but it's important to remember that you have the power to change your mood. The key to keeping stress levels low is staying positive and focusing on what's good in life. Try thinking of three things each day that make you happy, or take some time to meditate and focus on breathing deeply. It also helps to stay away from negative people who are constantly bringing their own problems into everything they do; if possible, try making more time for activities with other people who make you happy.

Finally, think of positive affirmations—this works by reminding yourself that there are many things worth being thankful for in life! This can be as simple as saying one thing out loud every morning (for example: "I am strong") or writing them down on your mirror so they're always visible when needed most throughout each day."

Prioritize healthy habits.

Healthy habits are things you do on a regular basis that help you feel good, like exercise, eating well, and getting enough sleep. Healthy habits can also help lower stress levels. If you prioritize these excellent behaviors, it’s easier to say “no” when someone asks you to do something that isn't good for you. It's also possible that they'll take the hint if they notice your body language changing as soon as they start asking for favors or offering advice.

The best way to ensure your healthy habits are getting done is to schedule them into your day so that other obligations don't get in the way of doing what's best for you and your mental health!

Practice mindfulness.

• Focus on the present moment. This is a big one, as it’s easy to get distracted by worries about what happened earlier in the day or what might happen tomorrow. Instead, try to focus on what you are doing right now. You may even want to practice mindfulness meditation or deep breathing exercises if they help you stay focused on the present moment.

• Don’t judge yourself too harshly for mistakes and failures (or successes!). No one is perfect, so why should we expect ourselves to be? If something doesn’t go your way, do your best not to berate yourself for it—you can always learn from your mistakes and improve upon them next time!

• Don't try to control everything around you! It's impossible anyway! Instead of worrying about things outside of our control (like traffic), let's focus on those things that we can actually impact: our own mindsets and behaviors toward others

Practice self-care

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by stress, self-care is the best way to take care of yourself and ensure that your stress levels stay low. Self-care can be anything you want it to be and doesn’t have to cost a lot of money! Here are some ideas:

• Take a bath with candles and soothing music

• Go for a walk in nature or go for a run on your favorite path

• Get outside if possible and breathe deeply in the fresh air around you

Find your social support system.

One of the most important things you can do to keep your stress levels low is to find a solid support system for yourself. A support system can be anyone or anything that helps you feel less alone, whether that’s a friend, family member, partner, or even a pet. When we are feeling down or stressed out it’s easy to isolate ourselves and retreat into our own heads. But this only increases our feelings of loneliness and isolation which then increases our stress levels. It’s important to remember that there are people who care about us and want us to be happy!

Today's Lesson.

Mental health is important, and there are many things you can do to keep your stress levels low. It's up to each individual to determine what works best for them, but it's important that we all make the effort.

What are your go-to stress relievers? Let me know in the comments below.