PROTECTING YOUR MENTAL HEALTH.

If there’s one thing that the pandemic has taught me it’s that my mental health is the most important thing to me, and I have to do whatever it takes to protect it.

Spending most of our time at home for a year and half has definitely had it perks, however, we’ve also spent the better half of our time on screens – mindlessly scrolling Instagram and binge watching way too much TV.

This year I have chosen to share less on Instagram, I have chosen to show up less, and to be more present. And mannnn what a game changer. Of course, being a content creator/ Influencer in this industry, I have to show up on Instagram. And I love to. I absolutely love connecting with you guys. I feel like we’ve become good friends over the last year. I love having side bar conversations with you all, sharing links whenever I can, doing hair and make-up tutorials, and get-ready-with-me videos. It’s been amazing, and I will continue to do that.

However, with being a content creator, you can get sucked up in all the pressure of having to show up everyday on Instagram. And if you don’t, you might lose followers or your engagement will slow down. So, you do. You show up everyday, you put in time and effort in creating content, bashing out new videos everyday, responding to every DM, and slowly affecting your mental health by doing so.

Stop. Just stop.

Take a breath, and realize what’s more important to you. Followers and engagement? Or your mental health?

This year I have stopped caring about all that and focused more on what I love doing, what I love sharing, and most importantly, my own mental well being. I have focused not on growing the number of followers on IG, but instead keeping the followers I currently have happy with my content.

I like to take a break from social media on weekends, and spend my time with my family, my friends and my husband, being 100% present. And if I need to capture something for social, I capture it quickly and put my phone away. I can upload content later.

So, this post is all about protecting your mental health. I want to share some way’s I’ve been protecting mine.

SMALL CHANGES TO BETTER YOUR MENTAL HEALTH:

FINDING JOY OFFLINE:

Put your phone, TV, laptop away and do something that doesn’t involve looking at a screen. My absolute favourite activity in the summertime is spending as much time in nature as possible. I want to hear the sounds of birds and running water. Nothing gives me more peace than that. This year I’ve also gotten into gardening, which is another major mental health booster. Being in nature is the best thing you can do for your soul. Let your mind wander. Take deep breaths and let out your stresses. Let your thoughts be gone. Clear your mind of any negativity when in nature. Take your shoes off and feel the ground beneath you. There are lots of benefits to grounding.

Benefits of spending more time in nature:

• Major stress reliever
• Improve eyesight
• You absorb Vitamin D better
• Increases sleep quality
• Improves creativity
• Major mood booster
• Strengthens your immune system

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++ Shop my outfit – Top linked here. Shorts linked here.

SCHEDULING SOME “ME” TIME:

I know this seems like such a no brainer thing, but we can get so caught up with life that we can actually forget to include some “me” time in our lives. This can be anything. I’m not saying spend a whole day getting pampered at the spa, although if you can swing that, all the power to you! I mean the small joys in life.

• Having coffee for 10 minutes uninterrupted.
• Taking a bath for an hour with a glass of wine and some candles.
• Enjoying a morning walk to your local café.
• Going shopping by yourself for the afternoon.
• Getting a pedicure for 30 minutes.
• Book yourself a back massage.
• Spend 15 minutes giving yourself an at-home facial.
• Meditate for 10 minutes with candles and incense.
• Read a book for 30 minutes.

Notice how all these things do not involve a screen? Every single one of these should give you clarity, better your mental health, and make you feel so much better once completed. Trust me! Everyone needs this, so schedule it in.

EATING CLEAN, DRINKING LESS:

This is another one that is huge for me. When you eat better, you feel better. I have always been a healthy eater, but lately even more so. I am always checking nutrition labels and ingredients on foods we buy because I want to make sure they are CLEAN. No fake shit in them, no ingredients I can’t pronounce, no overly salted or sweetened stuff. I want to eat as clean as I can. This makes me feel good about my health and my body.

Snacks I’m loving lately:

• Nut bars with minimal ingredients
• Asiago and artichoke dip with crackers
• Mangos
• Smoothies with banana, wild blue berries, yogurt, avocado, cashew milk, almond butter, and a slice of lemon
• Gluten-free blueberry muffins

++ Check out my snacks sheet here! Download and print it out to stick on your fridge.

Another thing I’m doing is cutting down my alcohol consumption. There is WAY too much sugar in wine to be drinking it every night. Of course it’s summertime and we all want to enjoy a cocktail or three on the patio. Me included! But it’s all about balance. If I know I’m hitting a patio on a certain night, I will make sure to skip the drinks leading up to that day. Everything in moderation is totally my motto.

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So, the next time you go to grab your phone, think about if you reallllly need to be scrolling right now or could you spend your time doing something better? Something you LOVE. Something that brings you joy.

Let me know in the comments what you think about this post? Share what you do to protect your mental health. I’d love to know.

Xx, kim

++ Check out my post on Let’s Talk About Mental Health.

+++ Oh and also, 3 Wellness Goals You Need In Your Life.

SHOP MY FAVOURITES:

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