• Staying connected with others is essential. Reaching out to family members or friends who provide practical help and emotional support is a start toward balanced mental health and aids in recovery from a mental illness.
• Shifting focus toward positivity by determining and challenging unhelpful or negative thoughts will help a woman achieve a greater sense of well-being.
• Getting regular exercise improves both mental and physical health. Even for a short period, exercising can benefit a woman's overall health and mental focus.
• Eating healthy and keeping hydrated can improve focus and energy levels throughout the day. Therefore, it is crucial to consume well-balanced meals, drink plenty of water, and limit caffeinated beverages like coffee and soda.
• Practicing gratitude can be a helpful tactic to increase happiness and feelings of well-being. Each day, remember to focus on the things to be grateful for. Being specific, writing them down, and replaying them in your mind can help create a habit of being mindful of all the things in life that elicit gratitude.
• Prioritizing healthy sleeping patterns by adhering to a schedule and ensuring enough sleep is essential. In addition, avoiding computers and phones before bed is necessary because these electronic devices cause exposure to blue light, often resulting in difficulty sleeping.
• Setting goals and priorities is an essential aspect of self-care. It is a great start to decide what must get done now and what can wait and learn to say “no” to new responsibilities and tasks when it feels like they may be too much to handle.  Being mindful of what has been accomplished at the end of the day instead of what could not be done is also crucial.
• Adding a relaxing activity to a daily routine can bring favorable results. Explore activities like meditation, muscle relaxation, or breathing exercises and make it a point to schedule regular times for these and other healthy activities such as journaling.

Self-care can look different for everyone, and it is crucial to find out what you need and enjoy to feel healthy and happy. Discovering what works best for you may involve a bit of trial and error. And though self-care is certainly not a cure for mental illnesses and anxiety, understanding what causes or triggers mild symptoms and what coping techniques work best can help manage a woman’s mental health. Visit orlandothrivetherapy.com to set up a session with a mental health professional to get information on women's anxiety therapy in Windermere and local areas.