We’re taught from a young age to prioritize our physical health. Regular doctors’ appointments, yearly checkups, and periodic vaccinations are all part of being proactive and managing your physical health. But what about your mental health?

According to the World Health Organization, a staggering 264 million people in the world suffer from depression. Not only can poor mental health make your day to day a challenge, but it can have serious effects on your livelihood. Depression and anxiety lead to the loss of about 1 trillion US dollars in global productivity each year. Even worse, studies show that people with severe mental disorders die an average of 10-20 years earlier than the general population. That’s why it’s of the utmost importance to take care of your mental health.

If you’ve noticed that your mental health needs some help, we’re here with 3 ways to make your mental health a priority.

Learn How to Manage Your Stress

It’s truly amazing how much damage unchecked stress can do to a person. Not only is it uncomfortable, but stress can lead to intestinal distress, chronic headaches, insomnia, breakouts, a weakened immune system, and so much more. We all experience occasional stress, but long-term, unmanaged stress can take away from your happiness and well-being.

 

That’s why it’s of the utmost importance to learn how to manage your stress. Here are some of our favorite ways:

• Try out meditation. Even five minutes of meditation each day can help you keep your stress levels down. Meditation gives you the opportunity to step out of the chaos of everyday life and focus simply on your breath. Through meditation, you can learn to calm the racing thoughts in your head. You’ll likely find that taking a short time to meditate each day can help you be more productive, as it will grant you a clear mind with which to face the day.
• Exercise daily. When we’re feeling extremely stressed, it feels almost like our bodies are buzzing with anxiety. Stress can make you jittery and it can make it extremely difficult to get a good night’s sleep. By incorporating exercise into your daily routine, you can burn off all of that extra energy that’s keeping you up at night. When you’re able to get a good night’s sleep, you’ll be able to recharge your brain for the next day.
• Try supplements. There are tons of supplements on the market that help calm symptoms associated with stress. Some of our favorites are ashwagandha, an ancient ayurvedic herb, and CBD. You can even get CBDfx gummies with melatonin, which will not only help your stress levels but improve your sleep, too.

Find Someone to Talk to

When you’re feeling really bogged down with stress and anxiety, you may find that it’s hard to open up to family and friends. We all have a lot of preconceived notions of how we should be, and often feel ashamed when comparing ourselves for those around us. That’s why one of the most effective ways to make your mental health a priority is to seek the help of a professional, such as a therapist or a psychologist.

 

Finding a therapist can feel like an intimidating challenge, but thanks to the internet, it’s actually pretty simple. There are plenty of online directories of therapists in your area. Simply find a few that sound like a fit and set up introductory sessions with them. You’ll be on your way to better mental health in no time!

Learn to Say “No”

Learning how to say “no” can be one of the hardest but most effective steps to taking your mental health into your own hands. As humans, we’re designed to want to please the people who we love, even if we don’t want to do what they’re asking. But if you want to make your mental health a priority, it’s important that you make yourself a priority.

 

You can do that by learning to say “no” to something that you don’t want to do. If you’re feeling exhausted, get comfortable with turning down an invite to a party. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with work, learn to say no to an additional task. Saying “no” to others can, in many ways, be saying “yes” to yourself. And that is the biggest and most important step in prioritizing your mental health