We all learn from a very young age that it’s crucial to take care of our physical health: we go to the doctor when we’re sick. We practice good hygiene, like washing our hair and brushing our teeth. And we do our best to eat healthy foods and get regular exercise. Physical health seems to be a no-brainer for most of us. But the truth is, our minds are JUST as powerful as our bodies, and taking care of our mental health is JUST as crucial. When our bodies experience pain, exhaustion, or are just in need of some TLC, we take a step back to slow down and give them rest, care, and attention - so when our minds are feeling the same, we should be doing the same!
Splat Hair Color is so excited to announce that in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, we will be supporting To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA), a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and to invest directly into treatment and recovery. For the month of May (1st to 31st), 15% of all purchases made on SplatHairColor.com will support TWLOHA
If you or someone you know has ever struggled with addiction, depression, or any mental health illness, then you know that the struggle is real. It takes an enormous amount of work and dedication for an individual to find inner strength, help, and recovery - but Splat and TWLOHA are here to remind you that there is always hope and healing waiting on the other side.
With the help of TWLOHA’s online resources, we’ve developed a list of 20 Ways To Practice Self-Care to help you on your personal journey towards health and happiness.
- Practice meditation and breathing exercises. Breathing techniques and exercises are designed to help calm and regulate your mood and heart rate, and meditation can help put your mind on ‘pause’ allowing the world around you to slow down, giving you a better sense of focus and direction. Apps like Calm and Headspace are great sources for guided meditations, calming music, and breathing techniques.
- Explore counseling options (including virtual). No matter how comfortable you feel with your mental state, we could all use some help when it comes to processing our emotions and working through life’s challenges; especially these days when we are all experiencing a lack of connection with friends, family, and activities that used to be so available. If you could use someone to talk to, even anonymously, try finding a counselor, group, or therapist. There are plenty of resources locally, or you can even connect online through apps like Talkspace and 7cups to help you find a regular, trusted source for you ‘let it all out.’
- Take time to disconnect from social media. Give yourself regular breaks from social media, whether that’s a certain number of hours a day or weeks at a time. You don’t have to completely disconnect or isolate yourself, but taking regular breaks from likes, comments, and posts can have a real positive effect on your mental health and overall mood.
- Color, draw, or play with art. Humans are creative beings, and coloring isn’t just for grade school! Playing with art, colors and creative tools can allow you to express yourself however you want. Don’t think it means you need to be a Picasso or Banksy, either - art is a visual journal, so is all about expression and allowing your inner thoughts and feelings to transfer to your medium. Just grab a pad of paper and pen, or even a meditation coloring book, and get started. Expressing creativity is a healthy outlet that can leave you feeling calmer, like you’ve just shouted it all out, and can give you a real sense of pride and accomplishment.
- Go for a walk. If you’re feeling stressed, anxious, angry, or overwhelmed - go for a walk! Moving your body, stretching your legs, and letting your mind focus on your outdoor surroundings (instead of relationship struggles, financial fears, etc.) can boost your serotonin and heart rate in just a brief 10-minute walk. Plus, you’ll feel good knowing you exercised!
- Get in a quick workout and take time to stretch. Physical activity is crucial to our overall well-being, and just a quick and simple workout can help boost serotonin levels and ‘reset’ your mood. Even stretching your muscles (casually, or through simple yoga) has benefits such as providing a feeling of calmness, leaving you ready to focus.
- Go outside and get some sunshine. We all need the sun, as well as VItamin D. Take time to go outside on your breaks at work or school or sit outside while you eat, do homework, or visit with friends.
- Take a bath - with candles and bath bombs. Treat yourself like royalty! Bring the spa home with you (it’s much more affordable, anyways) and soak in a hot bath complete with bath bombs, candles, Epsom salt, and your favorite relaxing music.
- Practice saying NO to things you don’t want or need to do. One thing so many of us have trouble with is remembering you don’t have to please everyone. In fact, it’s actually unhealthy to try to do so. Saying ‘no’ to things you don’t want, or don’t need to do, is one of the biggest signs of good mental health. If it’s hard for you to say ‘no,’ practice with people you trust.
- Unfollow negative accounts and outlets. This includes news sources, talk shows, podcasts, and social media pages. If you find a particular account triggers negative thoughts or feelings consistently, unfollow them and even block them if you don’t want to see them anywhere else. Replace them by following accounts that promote self-care, positive affirmations, creativity, and encouragement. Accounts that post uplifting news stories or even cute videos of animals can give you a boost of serotonin when you just need it!
- Read self-help and self-care blogs or articles. Some of our favorite self-help/self-care blogs can be found on the To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA) home page. We love “Relentlessly in Pursuit of Joy” and “To Anyone Struggling.” Let the positivity and inspiration of other people help inspire you. Knowing that what we’re feeling and experiencing is also shared and understood by others offers us comfort and connection.
- Make a list of goals, dreams, or ideals. Sometimes we forget what our goals and dreams are, causing us to become lost in the day-to-day routine. Make a list (no matter how wild!) and put it on your bedroom wall. Look at it every day to remind yourself of everything you want to accomplish. And remember: it’s all possible!
- Make a healthy meal from scratch. Snacking here and there, or regularly buying fast food, can be unhealthy, costly, and even cause feelings of guilt. Try finding a recipe for a meal you like, and make it from scratch. You’ll feel great knowing that you’re able to make something so rewarding, and will enjoy every morsel that much more!
- Journal or write. One of the hardest things for us to do sometimes is communicated verbally, especially when we just need to vent it out but we’re not sure how. Try to journal regularly about how you feel, what you want, or what you’re going through. You can even post it to a blog site like Medium to share your own experiences with others who may be struggling. And remember - journaling doesn’t need to be an outlet just for negative feelings but can be a great way to ground yourself with gratitude for something GREAT that happened to you that day.
- Declutter or clean up a space. If your bedroom, car, workspace, or kitchen are cluttered, take an hour to clean up! Putting on your favorite music and taking a moment to put things back where they belong can give you a breath of fresh air, plus, it will help get your mind off of other things.
- Drink more water! Dehydration is the enemy! It slows us down physically and can make us even more tired mentally. Carry a bottle of water with you everywhere and force yourself to drink more water if you have to! Your skin, your hair, and your gut will thank you for it.
- Call or text a friend or family member to say hi. We all need social connection, and if you’re feeling lonely, isolated, or depressed, reach out to other people instead of waiting for them to come to you. A simple “hey, how are you doing?” is a GREAT way to start a conversation, or simply just connect.
- Ask people for help when you need to. It takes strength and courage to ask for help, no matter how big or small a task may be. If you’re in financial fear, having trouble with a relationship, struggling with addiction, or are just feeling overwhelmed, please ask for help. Nobody can do it alone all the time, and asking for support is a HUGE step towards self-care.
- Practice expressing how you’re feeling, without shame or guilt. Feelings aren’t facts - they’re feelings! You’re entitled to how you feel. Failing to acknowledge, accept and express how you feel because you are scared, ashamed, or can’t put words to them can lead to bad habits of bottling them up. No one expects anybody to be happy or have it all together, all of the time. If you struggle to express your feelings, try writing them down or reaching out to a friend to talk.
- Surround yourself with positive people, places, and things that help you feel good about YOU! One of the most important things to remember is that you are beautiful, valuable, and special exactly as you are. Surround yourself with people who support you, encourage you, accept you, and appreciate you. Drop the things that don’t make you feel good about yourself or people who often make you feel bad about yourself or your decisions. Take care of yourself by choosing who and what gets to be in your life. Good people will always be there to help pick you up when you start to feel down.
Remember: Your mental health is just as important as your physical well-being, and taking care of your mind makes it even easier to take care of your body and soul. If you’re feeling down, depressed, anxious, suicidal, or if you’re stuck in a cycle of addiction, then we encourage you to seek the help you need - the To Write Love On Her Arms website has plenty of resources for immediate or long term guidance to help. Remember there is nothing wrong with seeking help, or going to a doctor - no matter what type of doctor it is! So be kind to yourself and add some (or all!) of the items in the list above into your day-to-day life.
