When you are not feeling your best and negative thoughts are constantly rattling around your brain, it can be profoundly difficult to focus on self-care and learn to love yourself. However, a study of 30,000 people has shown that negative thoughts can have a profoundly detrimental impact<a> on your mental wellbeing and life in general. There are a few simple ways that you can take care of yourself as you try to heal during darker times.
Here are 4 tips for self-care during periods of negative thoughts:
1. Take the time to show compassion to yourself
Showing compassion to yourself can be as simple as repeating one positive affirmation to yourself every day. Write down a list of your good qualities or ask a loved one to do this for you if you’re feeling too low to compile a positive list yourself. Start each morning by saying this affirmation aloud and you’ll gradually start to recognise the truth in it, improving your confidence.
2. Reconnect with a hobby you used to enjoy
Reconnecting with something you used to love doing can break down the barriers that you have built around yourself. Start with practising your old hobby for 20 minutes a week and you may rediscover the enjoyment in it and subsequently find that your mood and self-confidence start to grow.
3. Take a walk in the park
When you exercise, even just with a gentle stroll in the park, you release endorphins which can boost your mood and make you feel more positive. The added benefit of taking a walk outside is that you can connect with nature and start to appreciate the beauty of the world outside. During hard times, it might feel incredibly difficult to show appreciation for nature, but if you do this regularly, you may start to see a gradual positive health behaviour change.
4. Allow yourself a time out
If the everyday burdens and stresses of life feel overwhelming, don’t force yourself to put on a happy face and carry on with your day. Treat yourself to some alone time or talk to a friend who will listen in a nonjudgmental way to your problems. Sharing your problems rather than suppressing them is a great way of lessening that heavy burden on your heart.
Do you struggle to have a self-care plan when you are stuck in a negative thought pattern? Consult an experienced and compassionate psychologist to help you find a more positive outlook on life. Get in touch with me today.
