Counseling in Katy, TX: Back to School
It seems like every single year time flies by even quicker than the year before. It’s already the end of August! Before we break out the bonfires and hoodies, let’s look at some ways to ease into the new school year. Counseling in Katy, TX can provide you with some quick tips to make this transition as smooth as possible.
Create a Healthy Bedtime Routine
Who remembers getting told by adults to go to bed a bit earlier as the summer drew to a close when they were kids? Everyone, right? Well, I promise, these grown-ups knew what they were talking about. As we get older, we tend to forget the importance of the ritual of a healthy night time routine. Science has proven that lower levels of sleep directly correlate to how emotional and reactive we are. Creating, and enforcing, a bedtime routine will help your body realize that it’s time to wind down for the day. That it’s okay to rest. Just as setting an alarm to begin your day kick-starts your brain, setting an alarm to begin winding down can be just as effective. Begin with the basics, then make sure you add in something that you enjoy. After brushing your teeth, and going through your skin care routine, add in something that makes you happy. Reading, or meditating are excellent unwinding activities to try before bed. A calming routine will help you destress, slow your mind, and inspire relaxation before drifting to sleep.
Get Things Ready the Night Before
Preparing things the night before they are needed seems like such a simple idea. Taking the time to pick out your clothes the night before can allow you a few extra minutes of sleep, or a few extra minutes to drink your coffee in the morning. Do you need to bring lunch to work? If you pack it the night before after you lay out your clothes, you may be able to have an entire second cup of coffee before you head to work! If you oversleep, by having everything ready to go the night before, you have set yourself up for success, even if you accidently hit the snooze button an extra time.
Do Something You Enjoy
Returning to school, or having to be a part of the “real world” can sometimes be a chore. The same routine day in and day out can get monotonous and disheartening. Make it a point to engage in an activity that brings you stimulation and happiness so that you don’t get stuck in a routine that doesn’t bring you joy. Carve out time to hang out with a friend, inspire yourself with creativity, get physical with a sport, or engage in a hobby that makes you smile. Allowing yourself time for something you enjoy is a quiet way to freely express yourself in a way that is unique to you. Actively participating in something that makes you happy is a vital part of positive mental health.
Take Time for a Break
Recharging your batteries is essential to keeping your mental well-being in a healthy place. It is necessary to take time to really check in with yourself, take note of what you are thinking and feeling, and use coping skills if needed. Are you taking care to enforce your personal boundaries with the people in your life? Take time to make sure you are noticing the positive parts of your life. Are you noticing the things that are good? What is making you smile today? What are you finding engaging? What are you interested in learning about? Use these times of self-reflection to journal your thoughts, enabling yourself to keep track of your goals.
While these tips are applicable to making the transition into the school year easier, they can also be applied to all seasons of your life. Counseling in Katy, TX can guide you toward becoming a better version of yourself. Contact me to begin your journey to a better you. Let’s work together, today!
