Beyond the Beauty: My evening routine for the last several years is something that takes just a few minutes, but makes a world of difference in how I feel about myself… especially when I’m down. It’s a tool I learned in therapy that helps to train your brain to notice the good in yourself and in your life, even if things are crappy in your world.
Every night before I go to bed, I ask myself these three questions:
- What am I grateful for today (or what went well today)?
- What’s something I did today that makes me proud of myself?
- What am I looking forward to tomorrow?
Some nights, the answers come quickly; other times it’s a major struggle, but those are the times I know I need this exercise the most.
Try adding this practice to your day, and see how you feel when you do it consistently.
Sometimes the answers can seem so insignificant, like “I’m proud of myself for checking the mail”… but actually, that IS a big deal if you’re not feeling well. It’s still something that you made happen and you should be proud of every little thing.
This definitely works better for me if I write down the answers, so that’s what I recommend you do. Start a journal or keep track digitally in your notepad on your phone. It can be so therapeutic to read through your answers once you’ve been at it awhile: You’ll see all the things you accomplished, all the things that went well in your life, everything you have to look forward to!
I hope this helps you as much as it helps me. And if you need more ideas on how to stay mentally healthy, my partner, Mental Health America has lots of valuable information.