Sometimes we forget about basic things when we're not feeling our best. The first two things I ask about when I’m assessing a new client are: How’s your eating? How’s your sleeping? When we begin to run short on time or when our stress levels climb, it is not uncommon for our hours in bed to become shortened or for meals to become optional. However, sleeping and eating are necessities that require respect and commitment. Good habits can help us weather the storms of life’s peaks and valleys.
Behaviors that can help maintain good habits include:
Meal prepping on weekends to ensure you always have a meal handy during the week.
Munching on energizing foods like fruits and vegetables.
Traveling with snacks.
Having a consistent bedtime that enables between 7-9 hours of sleep.
Preparing for your morning the night before so you can get as much sleep as possible.
Practice building healthy habits today.
Daphne Weaver, LMHC, received her master's degree in clinical mental health counseling with a specialization in trauma studies from Lesley University. She spent the past several years in an array of mental health settings including community mental health, middle schools and high schools, universities, and nonprofit. She has worked with a range of clients (from age five to age eighty) with a variety of needs, including depression, borderline personality disorder, dissociative identity, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and many other disorders.
Thank you for your interest in our Monday Mental Health Moments. Join our mailing list for a weekly newsletter on various mental health topics, and information about upcoming groups or workshops. We promise we won’t spam you!