Be kind to your mind. 

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and we're here to discuss the importance of mental health.  If you're juggling a job, school, parenthood, maybe even a global pandemic, your mental health should be a top priority! 

Here are a few ways to prioritize taking care of yourself:

-Check in!  Ask yourself how you're feeling.  What is the reason you're stressed? Is it a situation you have control over, or is it something out of your control? Here's a self-care checkup worksheet if you don't know where to start.  

-Take a break.  If you're feeling overwhelmed, your body is telling you it's time to chill out for a second.  The work you produce while you're feeling overextended will not be as good your work when you're comfortable.  

-Negative emotions will always take weight in your brain over positive ones.  When this happens, try to list out 5-10 things you are grateful for.  They can be tangible or conceptual. 

-Be careful how you talk to yourself.  It's easy to say negative things, especially about your productivity or how you look. Imagine how you would feel if someone else were to talk to you in this way. Next time you realize this is happening, stop and say something kind to yourself instead. 

-Ask for support! If you're a current student, you have a whole network of people here to help you.  Your classmates, teachers, and student services coordinators at PCI are either going through similar situations or their job is dedicated to helping you succeed.  

-Write it out.  Grab a journal, go somewhere quiet and write down everything you're feeling.  Letting your brain flow out onto paper allows you to organize your thoughts, even if it doesn't make any sense.  You will feel better after releasing all of that pent-up emotion.  

It's easy to get caught up in life and forget to prioritize your mental health.  Next time you're feeling overwhelmed, take a deep breath and don't forget to be kind to your mind!