As an entrepreneur, making time to focus on mental capacity collectively and individually is vital. We need to take a moment to understand the parameters of mental health and how to unpack it and apply it to our own lives. Mental Health, if addressed continually, can have a positive effect on how we as a people navigate through our lives.

Let's unpack managing mental health. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Association, the definition of mental health is the emotional, psychological, and social well-being that affects how we think, feel, and act which determines how we handle stressors. Managing your mental health can be as simple as taking a breathing break or as detailed as having therapist input.

Whatever way you go, understand that it is essential to be consistent and know your limitations. In my "Book "The Book of H.O.P.E., I provide steps to overcoming obstacles: guarding your thoughts, identifying people you can talk to, and strategies to help you to relax, such as breathing, exercising, or just time away to close out the noise. I also talk about being careful with what you speak. Let's look at some of these examples.

Taking a Break

Take advantage of vacation time, personal time, a moment of solitude, and rest. When you start to feel the pressure of your world coming down on you, use this time to assess your capacity to handle what is oppressing you. The question is, can you endure, or should you take a time out? Get in tune with how your body is responding to stress. Internalizing stressors can affect you physically. Are you having headaches when you are in high-pressure spaces? Is your stomach in knots? Are you breaking out in hives? Whatever happens, this is the time to recognize why you are in this state. Questions to ask yourself; why am I feeling this way? How did I get here? What should I do to make a change? Is my response moving me forward? I have said, "When you identify that there needs to be an adjustment in how you navigate the space you are in, you are taking the important step for change." Managing stress is the same. Recognizing how pressure affects you and doing something about it is vital.

Practice Tools/Techniques to Unwind

Identify and implement ways that help you relax. Typical forms of relaxation are deep breathing meditation, self-talk, affirmations, or just taking a nap. A good suggestion is to have a tool to begin and end your day. Also, something in the middle to keep you going is an option, if needed. Whatever you decide to do, the plan is to move you from a place of pressure to less or no stress. If your tools are not keeping you calm, rethink what you have in your toolbox. When I am stressed or overwhelmed, I often start with a breathing technique I learned years ago that uses Tai Chi concepts called the "Energy Ball." You can find examples of this method on the internet. I also have other tools that help me when the ball is not enough for the day. Additionally, adding self-talk, quoting scripture, or calling someone I trust to talk to are other methods you can use.

Stay in the place of gratitude

In my book "A Measure of Gratitude," I walk you through a daily journey of how to stay in a place of gratitude. There are physical and spiritual benefits when you operate from a space of gratitude daily. Some benefits are better sleep, optimism, fewer headaches, better digestion, and decreased respiratory infections. In a nutshell, you have a calm body. Mentally, you make better choices regarding your well-being. You can even experience strengthened relationships with your family, friends, and the community you live in as well as how you see the world.

There are so many attributes to managing your mental health that you would be remiss to ignore taking a moment to do some self-care regularly. These are just a few suggestions on how to jumpstart your journey to a place of well-being and inner peace when faced with the weight of stress.

"Being able to be your true self is one of the strongest components of good mental health." ~ Dr. Lauren Fogel Mersy ~