Mental Health Update: Self-help Check-ins

Okay, so I have been neglecting my mental health in a large way lately.

My life has been going at full speed these past few months; my course load, my jobs, organizations, this blog, and the other stressors we go through as people.

Obviously, self-development plays a huge role in my life, its why I started this blog for goodness sake!

However, I’ve found that it’s taken a backseat to the other things I have going on.

Let me walk you through my usual self-development routine.

I would usually start the morning off with writing the ten main life proclamations that I’m working to achieve, down in my notebook.

Then at some point in the day I usually read a chapter of a self-help book, listen to a podcast episode, or both.

I can’t do both at the same time and wouldn’t advise it either because podcasts are basically loosely tamed versions of the self-help books. It’s nearly impossible to take in both at once.

I may listen to music while reading or play a podcast while writing a blog post.

And at night, I usually write ten things I’m thankful for that day and write the ten proclamations down again before bed.

Now, let me tell you how I fell off track.

I decided that writing the proclamations twice a day was becoming an unnecessary hassle, so I just wrote them down on a notecard that hangs on my desk to see.

As for the self-help books, one of the classes I’m enrolled in currently is ran like a book club of sorts, and the books are all developmental.

I have very singular focus when it comes to books, and can’t read multiple at once, so I figured I would just focus on the required readings for my class since they do tie into my usual book genre.

I do listen to podcasts, just not daily. Only when I’m writing or doing some homework. And even then, I don’t seem to retain as much as I used too.

I really don’t have an excuse for falling off with the daily gratitude exercise, I just forget about it.

Ugh, I know, this is sad y’all.

I believe everyone in general needs to do some form of personal development every day, but especially those who provide self-development content such as myself.

We cannot properly feed the masses if we are starving ourselves, which is why it was very necessary to do this check in.

I’ve become aware that a major reason why I haven’t been as disciplined or receptive is because I have yet to purge all of the built-up energy from the other aspects of my life.

You cannot properly receive any knowledge being poured into your cup if it’s already overflowing with endless tasks and stress about situations beyond your control.

And even though my life is only going to get more hectic in the coming months, I’m making it my job to purge the baggage and prioritize time for me.

It’s literally the only way I will stay sane in the midst of the chaos that is my life.

I’ve fallen off, but I’m about to hop right back on the train.

I will make sure that I write my list of daily gratitude every night, and I will listen to a podcast or inspirational video on those days I’m not reading a developmental book.

Things get so busy sometimes, with us going from task to task, but as the saying goes, “People will make time for what’s most important.”

And self-help is of MOST importance, guys!

Let me know how your self-help check-in goes and share some tips or exercises that you use in the comments down below and on our social media pages!

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