What mental and emotional healthy habits do you practice?
peachvine29
Posts: 400 Member
My weight loss journey has shown me that my weight and physical health is the result of what habits I am doing over time.
Now that I am more physically healthy, I see the need to get more emotionally and mentally healthy. I feel this may be feasible if I just make some new things a habit. I am not sure where to start but know I need to work on this.
Curious if anyone wants to share!
Now that I am more physically healthy, I see the need to get more emotionally and mentally healthy. I feel this may be feasible if I just make some new things a habit. I am not sure where to start but know I need to work on this.
Curious if anyone wants to share!
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Replies
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I meditate 10 minutes a day...helps with focus/anxiety, but it takes a few months of doing it every day to really notice the benefits, and they're very subtle.6
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I wouldn't necessarily call it a habit but I've made an effort to improve mindfulness. I have on/off issues with anxiety, self-confidence, and imposter syndrome. I got a new boss last fall and talking with him on a few business trips really opened my eyes to just how much I was letting those thing affect me on a daily basis. Being more self aware has helped me be able to self-correct faster.15
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i enjoy spending time with my kitty cats, my hubby, listening to good music (i.e. grateful dead radio station on amazon music), reading (both personal development type books + i love a good novel), sometimes writing is helpful to me. i just ordered some essential oils and a diffuser upon the recommendation of my therapist (that's something i also recently started: therapy. i've been dealing with a lot of anxiety lately, and it's kind of nice to have an objective sounding board who isn't a part of my regular life).4
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I go to therapy, I try to take care of my emotional needs (and physical needs, but those are far easier), I go out to coffee with rowing friends after Saturday practices, I try to push myself, and I work on finding the balance between too much and to little with regards to pushing myself.5
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self-care in general. Lots of it.3
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I like to challenge myself by deliberately doing things that I know will make me feel self conscious, uncomfortable, uneasy and a bit scared. This usually seems to take the form of overcoming social situations or areas that I think I have room to grow and develop but sometimes it's about learning something new that I'm not very good or comfortable doing.
A couple of examples:
- I took my camera into the city and decided I wasn't going to leave until I'd plucked up the courage to approach 20 complete strangers and convince them to let me take their portrait. Huge learning experiences about dealing with rejection. Some people said yes, some people said no, (one person accused me of being a pervert LOL) but at the end of the day I found it much easier to pluck up the courage to ask people and realised that getting told 'no' didn't cause the world to end and I had 20 photos of 20 wonderful people.
- I set up a REALLY obvious video rig and made myself go out and 'vlog' in crowded public places. Taught me that the opinions and judgements of complete strangers doesn't mean a thing. I got LOADS of funny looks, sniggers, curled lips and comments from people who were clearly thinking "who does this idiot think he is?" but 30 seconds later they were gone from my life never to be heard from again so what they thought of me didn't mean squat.
- Since I come from a decidedly non-artsy family I frequently sign up for creative type classes. I took singing lessons and will soon be starting an improv class. These kind of pursuits are so outside of my wheelhouse that they're a real stretch for me but this also means I find them super rewarding15 -
- I took my camera into the city and decided I wasn't going to leave until I'd plucked up the courage to approach 20 complete strangers and convince them to let me take their portrait. Huge learning experiences about dealing with rejection. Some people said yes, some people said no, (one person accused me of being a pervert LOL) but at the end of the day I found it much easier to pluck up the courage to ask people and realised that getting told 'no' didn't cause the world to end and I had 20 photos of 20 wonderful people.
I can so relate to this one!
I am currently doing a photography course, and as a somewhat socially anxious introvert, this part was quite a challenge for me. But rewarding.
This year I have really been trying to prioritize my needs/wants instead of always putting the kids/DH first and then never quite getting to me. The course was part of this, and I have also since joined a local camera club.
And I also joined a gym that I actually enjoy (not just the cheapest one I could find like previously, and I ended up hating).2 -
I prioritize myself and make sure I fit in what I want and need done first.
I make sure I get in my workout(s) for the day. I schedule my beautifying time and get my mani's and pedi's and do them myself for maintenance and do my facials etc. I take pride in my appearance. I don't wear too much into makeup, but I'll go to Sephora once in a while and get something new like an eyeshadow palette or a good facial moisturizer. I spend quiet time to just think, read or walk everyday.
Also I'm never hard on myself. Even when I was losing weight if I wanted a treat I would make room for it. If I needed a break from exercise I would take it. I treat myself to a nice dress or heels/boots once in a while. Sometimes I stay in bed just a little bit longer.
Doing all of these little things have greatly improved my quality of life. Neglecting myself is something I will never do again.12 -
I like this topic and the responses are great. I have been thinking about ways to make my life more enjoyable. Trying to create my own happiness, I guess you could say.
Lately, I have been spending some time each day doing a hobby activity, but I think I could make this a more permanent thing. Set aside an actual block of time rather than fitting it in when I can.
I’ve also been teaching my teenage son to cook, which is kind of more for him, but I have really enjoyed spending time with him. I get some actual conversation out of him, and he hasn’t been too disagreeable about it so that’s always a plus. 😄
I have considered learning a new skill or taking a class, but I haven’t made a decision on that, yet. But I think it is important to keep growing as a person and to keep challenging yourself.4 -
What mental and emotional healthy habits do you practice?
Exercise regularly.
Try to get at least 7 hours of sleep each night.
Employ various sleep techniques to get a good sleep.
Pursue further education.
Take on challenges at work.
Take care of paperwork - make sure affairs are in order.
Take long weekends at least once a month.
Travel at least every other month.
Attend the symphony or a play once a month or 6 weeks.
Have a bit of fun with photography.
Be involved with my cycling club.
Listen to music.
Just to name a few.
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I love this thread. I've recently been reflecting on how mentally strong I have become. My weight loss journey started with changing and creating one habit at a time. The first was sleep. I forced myself to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. Even if I was unable to sleep, or didn't want to wake up, I realized the first step to health was getting into a healthy sleep cycle (Lifelong insomniac here). After I learned to do that, my next new habit was to work out for 30 minutes after I woke up. I was so out of shape when I dedicated myself to do this, but I did it. I started out with easier workout programs. It wasn't the intensity or calorie burn that mattered to me. It was learning how to create new healthy habits. I led myself how to follow a specific vitamin, mineral (etc) supplement program which actually enabled me to go off of my anti depressants and anxiety meds. This has all been years in the works, but just this past week I realized how mentally strong I've become when I was able to get through several physical obstacles and still run 13.1 miles to complete the half marathon I trained for. Running. Right now that is my #1 thing that I do for me. Running is my meditation, my me time. For me it's the perfect combination of both physical and mental challenge. When my body feels weak, my mind is still strong. When my body feel strong, my mind gets even stronger. I hope you are able to find what fuels you. Body, heart, mind and soul.10
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Journal, hikes with my dog in the woods, 7-8 hours of sleep per night, healthy diet and lots of exercise.1
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Look to things that naturally lift your spirit - creative, artistic or cultural things, social time with family and friends, find your zen - whether that is spritual, religious or just lighting a candle and soaking in the bath (essentially time for yourself where you can contemplate nothing or everything), incidental activity - play time with children or activity type of hobby, intellectual things - games, puzzles, etc,
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I wake up, work out and mentally plan out my day.
I hydrate and follow a routine.
I talk over short term and long term plans with friends and colleagues and listen to their input.
On the drive home or at the end of the day I review the day and reflect on what could have gone better, what I could've done, and take a look at tomorrow to ensure everything is ready. I gather up my family and do the same with them to make sure they are ready for tomorrow and short term plans are set.
I pray and meditate. I sleep.
Rinse and repeat.2 -
Exercise regularly - increase in mood
Follow a routine - as someone who struggles with anxiety having a routine helps me remain calm and decreases my stress.
Get enough sleep - I see a decrease in mood when I'm not getting enough rest.
Alone time - I love my dogs and I love my SO but I'm a person that needs complete alone time to rest and recoup and destress. At least one night a week I make my SO walk the dogs without me so I can sit at home for that hour and just be in the quiet and decompress. It's improved our relationship because I'm not emotionally exhausted.
Putting my phone away at a specific time each night - I have certain people set up for emergencies but I really try to avoid my phone after 9pm. Not only does it help me sleep more but it's less emotionally and mentally draining.
Self care - Honestly, I got into skincare like a year ago and made it part of my night time routine. It's relaxing to take 20 minutes and do a face mask. Having goop on my face makes me sit down and just chill for 20 minutes. the added improvement is that my skin is now super soft.
Hobbies - I make time for my hobbies and try to spend 30 minutes on it each night. Sometimes cross stitch, sometimes crocheting sometimes coloring whatever. It's time to decompress and relax and I can't be eating because they all use my hands. Stressful and emotional day? go home and make a hat to donate... I find finishing something small like a hate or a project gives me a sense of accomplishment that really helps elevate my mood after a hard day at work.4 -
Basic self care: getting good sleep, eating nutritious meals, getting fresh air/exercise. Little habits: making time to do at least one fun or relaxing thing every day, writing down important memories or printing photos from significant events to stay focused on the positive, spending time or reaching out to friends and loved ones. Another thing is realizing that I don’t have to add to my own stress. If I notice a pattern of something stressing me out, 9/10 times I can eliminate that source of stress by making a different choice. (Example: overcommiting to plans and feeling too busy to relax? Say no sometimes or schedule in days to stay home.) Not making decisions because I feel I “should” but actually deciding if I want to or if it is a benefit to me.2
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peachvine29 wrote: »My weight loss journey has shown me that my weight and physical health is the result of what habits I am doing over time.
Now that I am more physically healthy, I see the need to get more emotionally and mentally healthy. I feel this may be feasible if I just make some new things a habit. I am not sure where to start but know I need to work on this.
Curious if anyone wants to share!
You're exactly right. That's such a great comment. Our quality of life depends of our habits over time, which show up in our weight and health in all areas, physical, emotional, and mental.
I love walking and slow jogging outside in a beautiful nature area, which I've started since I joined MFP. I l often do walking meditations while I'm out there. It lifts up my whole day.
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This is just a small change but I'm trying to not have coffee at least 3 hrs before bedtime and not mess with my phone before bedtime. Drinking water with lemon to help calm me. This is to improve sleep because my mind does not shut off easily and I also tend to wake up in the night. Cutting out these things has helped and hopefully gives me better energy for workouts.2
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I work a stressful and noisy job, sometimes up to 14 hours a day. I would always go to lunch with my co-workers and spend the time socializing. This was fine, but about a year ago, I started eating lunch alone with my office door closed. Not talking to anyone, not answering the phone or emails until I was done with my quiet lunch. I had no idea how much this "reset" would help me get through my day. I'm not an introvert, but taking this quiet time has been a life improvement.7
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i enjoy spending time with my kitty cats, my hubby, listening to good music (i.e. grateful dead radio station on amazon music), reading (both personal development type books + i love a good novel), sometimes writing is helpful to me. i just ordered some essential oils and a diffuser upon the recommendation of my therapist (that's something i also recently started: therapy. i've been dealing with a lot of anxiety lately, and it's kind of nice to have an objective sounding board who isn't a part of my regular life).
@MichSmish, I hate to bring this up, but essential oils (including diffused) can be harmful to pets, especially cats. You might just want to Google to see which oils are "safer" and how to lessen any potential impact. I would love to get an essential oil diffuser, but I haven't because of my cat. (Sorry! 😞)
This is such a great thread! I'm loving all the ideas. 💕3 -
I know it sounds stupid but I try really hard to be kind to myself, and recognise the good things i've done rather than focusing on the negative. Weight loss is a hugely mental struggle for me and in the past i've lost over a 100 lbs through over restriction, and gained the same back through bingeing - also unhealthy. Both triggered by a bad mental attitude, seeing my worth as equivalent to my weight.5
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i enjoy spending time with my kitty cats, my hubby, listening to good music (i.e. grateful dead radio station on amazon music), reading (both personal development type books + i love a good novel), sometimes writing is helpful to me. i just ordered some essential oils and a diffuser upon the recommendation of my therapist (that's something i also recently started: therapy. i've been dealing with a lot of anxiety lately, and it's kind of nice to have an objective sounding board who isn't a part of my regular life).
@MichSmish, I hate to bring this up, but essential oils (including diffused) can be harmful to pets, especially cats. You might just want to Google to see which oils are "safer" and how to lessen any potential impact. I would love to get an essential oil diffuser, but I haven't because of my cat. (Sorry! 😞)
This is such a great thread! I'm loving all the ideas. 💕
I had no idea!! Thank you so much for pointing this out to me! ❤️2 -
i enjoy spending time with my kitty cats, my hubby, listening to good music (i.e. grateful dead radio station on amazon music), reading (both personal development type books + i love a good novel), sometimes writing is helpful to me. i just ordered some essential oils and a diffuser upon the recommendation of my therapist (that's something i also recently started: therapy. i've been dealing with a lot of anxiety lately, and it's kind of nice to have an objective sounding board who isn't a part of my regular life).
@MichSmish, I hate to bring this up, but essential oils (including diffused) can be harmful to pets, especially cats. You might just want to Google to see which oils are "safer" and how to lessen any potential impact. I would love to get an essential oil diffuser, but I haven't because of my cat. (Sorry! 😞)
This is such a great thread! I'm loving all the ideas. 💕
I had no idea!! Thank you so much for pointing this out to me! ❤️
If your cat has no respiratory issues, and you are not using the diffuser constantly, it should not have a negative impact on your cat.
https://www.aspca.org/news/latest-home-trend-harmful-your-pets-what-you-need-know0 -
When I start putting on weight "for no reason," I finally BELIEVE MYSELF and GO TO THE DOCTOR.
I tried to lose some winter weight over the summer with a bit of lazy logging and very regular exercise that usually gets me back on track and down to my "comfortable maintenance weight."
I ended up stopping because I had headaches for a solid month and debilitating muscle cramps every time I moved suddenly.
I didn't *want* to go to the doctor to demand testing for nebulous *something is keeping me from losing weight* complaint - AGAIN, but the headaches were too much. I stalled so long (I went to the eye doctor first about the headaches. Yes, my glasses prescription DID change, but the headaches marched on with a slightly different feel, even after the glasses prescription was corrected.), not only did I NOT lose any weight, I gained 12 lbs in a month, which was not proportionate to the amount of food I was eating.
I finally took myself back to the doctor and told her EVERYTHING I COULD THINK OF, and unlike last time, they believed me INSTANTLY and sent me off for all the tests they could think of.
I am NOT crazy. I am NOT lazy. I am NOT a hypochondriac. I am anemic. Again. (Last time it was B12 deficiency with somewhat different symptoms, but the same end result of anemia.)
I have a treatment regimen and orders to lay off exercise for a week or two while my iron stores build up.
Once I've got a base load of iron, I can work my way *gently* back into workouts again, and this weight WILL finally come off once my cells can get the oxygen they need to *burn anything* much less fat.
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i enjoy spending time with my kitty cats, my hubby, listening to good music (i.e. grateful dead radio station on amazon music), reading (both personal development type books + i love a good novel), sometimes writing is helpful to me. i just ordered some essential oils and a diffuser upon the recommendation of my therapist (that's something i also recently started: therapy. i've been dealing with a lot of anxiety lately, and it's kind of nice to have an objective sounding board who isn't a part of my regular life).
@MichSmish, I hate to bring this up, but essential oils (including diffused) can be harmful to pets, especially cats. You might just want to Google to see which oils are "safer" and how to lessen any potential impact. I would love to get an essential oil diffuser, but I haven't because of my cat. (Sorry! 😞)
This is such a great thread! I'm loving all the ideas. 💕
I had no idea!! Thank you so much for pointing this out to me! ❤️
If your cat has no respiratory issues, and you are not using the diffuser constantly, it should not have a negative impact on your cat.
https://www.aspca.org/news/latest-home-trend-harmful-your-pets-what-you-need-know
It also says to make sure it’s used in a secured room your cat can’t access (my cats have free range of my house lol). I think I’m going to return the oils and diffuser just to be safe. It would probably exacerbate my anxiety if I used them now knowing it could potentially harm my kitties ☹️7 -
Meditation, yoga, swimming (I'm terrible but I love the feeling of being in the water), weight-lifting, getting my beauty sleep, crocheting, knitting, mandala painting0
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I used some moments each day for a devotional(just me time and god)
I walk or slow jog each day or dance to youtube videos or do other aerobic videos- I love the tour or travel vids and i will walk or slow jog as i see sights that i may never see in real life- London, Germany France, etc- Just a fun way to say"calgon take me away" remember that old commercial- hahaha2 -
Self care for me. I take the time to talk to myself in the mirror each morning and evening. It's little things . . . "I am worth it" "I can be whatever I want to be" "I am beautiful as I am" "I am worthy of being respected" . . . I just repeat these little sayings every morning when I wake up, and each night before I go to bed. How can I be loved if I cannot love myself first?4
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Walking in nature, meditation, therapy homework, affirmations2
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healingnurtrer wrote: »Walking in nature, meditation, therapy homework, affirmations
I just started doing affirmations, they really help. But when you say them, do you say, "I am strong" or "You are strong"? I guess both work but I was really stuck on this.
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