We are more than halfway through the week of celebrating women’s health, and have reached one of the most important topics for all women: mental health.

You can take care of your bodies by eating healthy  and exercising  but be sure not to neglect your mental health.

You may not know that taking care of your mental health is just as important, perhaps more so, than taking care of your physical health. Positive mental health is associated with improved overall health.

Here’s how you can invest in your mental health:

1. Everyone experiences stressful situations in their lives at one time or another. The best way to combat the stress is to be aware of it. Create a baseline by monitoring your moods and noticing when you feel more stressed and when you feel more calm. Once you determine a baseline for your moods, you can keep track of them and check-in with yourself regularly to see how you’re doing. This will help you better identify your emotions.
2. Things that cause stress can be a conflict at work, financial stress, events in your past, or general anxiety about the future. Identify your triggers, the things that set off your emotional warning signs, and be prepared so you can prevent them and avoid them if possible.
3. Identifying your triggers: what sets off your stress or anxiety? When do you notice yourself becoming more agitated? Come up with ways to deal with the situation. Perhaps by stepping outside for a short walk or a cup of water, listening to music, or taking some deep calming breaths. Only you know the best way to soothe yourself.
4. Recognize and let go of control, by realizing that there is very little that you have control over. You may not have control of the outcome or the situation, but you do have control over how you choose to react to it. How you react to it will determine how you will cope with stress going forward.
5. The best way to combat stress is to make time for yourself, to relax and recharge. Your health should be a priority, especially if you have people relying on you, so that you have what you need in order to take care of others. This can include taking a walk, reading a good book, taking a nap, exercise, drinking a hot beverage, visiting or speaking to friends or family, meditation or yoga, or the relaxation activity of your choice. Whatever it is, embrace it and know that you deserve to relax and invest in yourself.
6. Speak to someone- be it a friend, or a mental health professional. Sometimes, you are faced with a difficult situation that you just can’t face on your own. Know that there are people waiting to help you. You just have to make that first appointment. Life is stressful enough, you don’t have to go it alone. It is okay to ask for help.
7. Know that it will get better. Stressful situations pass, and things get easier with time. This is just temporary, and you can get through it!

Source: https://foh.psc.gov/calendar/stress.html