Taking Mental Health Breaks To Maintain Wellbeing
Taking a mental health break can feel like a luxury, but it’s necessary for overall wellbeing. Stepping away from daily demands, even briefly, gives your mind the chance to reset, reduce stress and regain clarity.
Here’s how you can incorporate mental breaks into your day.
Deep breathing. Taking a few moments to slow down and focus on your breath is a simple yet powerful way to give your mind a break. Tune into your natural breath, using each inhale and exhale to ground yourself in the present moment. Doing so can help you redirect your focus and gain a renewed sense of clarity and connection.
Feel your feelings. Recognizing uncomfortable emotions like anxiety or stress is the first step toward processing them in a healthy way. Try naming each emotion out loud and listing where they may be stemming from. For example, “I’m feeling stressed right now. It may be because my car is in the shop, and I’m worried about getting to work tomorrow.” By naming your emotions, your brain can shift into problem-solving mode, giving you a greater sense of control and helping you move forward with more clarity and calm.
Gratitude. Taking time to recognize what you’re thankful for is a powerful way to refresh your mindset and encourage positive thinking. Consider listing three people, places or things you are grateful for each day to boost your overall wellbeing. Over time, this practice will become natural, and as your brain develops new thought patterns, you may notice a more positive outlook emerging across many areas of your life.
Engage in hobbies you love. Setting aside time for activities you enjoy is crucial to improving your wellbeing and avoiding burnout. Whether it’s listening to your favorite song, painting, journaling, exercising or enjoying a warm cup of tea, these small, intentional breaks serve as valuable self-care and boost your mood by releasing endorphins, the brain’s natural “feel-good” chemicals.
When you take steps to engage in joyful activities and pause frequently throughout your day to refocus and recharge, your mind will be better equipped to maintain and sustain healthy mental health habits.
