For Women’s Health Week, Prioritize your Mental Health with These Tips
If you spend any time at all on the internet, you’ll know that the concept of self-care has become something of a meme: pervasive on social media, but often misunderstood, seen as synonymous with a bubble bath and a glass of wine. Which it can be! But it can also mean taking stock of your mental (and physical) health with the help of professionals.
That’s where Maven Clinic comes in. In honor of National Women’s Health Week, Bumble is joining forces with the digital clinic that empowers women with expert, convenient, and compassionate healthcare — anytime, anywhere.
New Maven Clinic users can enter the code BUMBLE to get their first appointment free. Maven has health and wellness providers on hand to help with any concern, from fulfilling a birth control prescription to trying out therapy.
As part of our new partnership, Bumble will also be offering its employees Maven’s comprehensive family benefits program for personalized pregnancy, postpartum, back-to-work, fertility, and egg freezing support.
To kick off Women’s Health Week, Maven therapist Mercedes Samudio offered some simple, helpful tips for those looking to prioritize their mental health in everyday life.
Check in with yourself regularly and honestly
Have you been feeling a little flat? You might be having a bad day or week — but make sure to ask yourself whether there’s something more serious at play. “Check in, and say, ‘is this my normal level of functioning?'” Mercedes recommends. “All of a sudden, are you procrastinating when you’re normally pretty good at managing everything? That’s usually a sign something is amiss. It doesn’t have to be diagnosable; it could just be stress.”
‘Busy’ isn’t ‘better’
Over the course of the last few years, Mercedes has watched as a packed schedule has gone from being seen as a modern scourge to something decidedly more aspirational. “Stress or being busy is sometimes glamorized, unfortunately,” she says.
Mercedes warns that ignoring stress can lead to anxiety and depression over time. “You might go months, weeks, years in that mindset. You might not realize that it’s been chipping away at you, and your feelings.”
Be intentional in your self-care
So you feel a little deflated lately. Maybe you’re exhausted, or unmotivated. But have you spent any time trying to understand which aspects of your life are causing this stress? “Look at when you’re starting to feel depleted,” Mercedes advises.
“Women take on a lot of roles. We’re wives. We’re moms. We’re working. If you’re depleted in your career, take some time off. Actually schedule some vacation. If you’re a mom and you’re depleted, is there a way to pull in a nanny or home cook for a few days? Be intentional in your self-care.”
Honor your bedtime (and put it in your calendar)
Every Sunday, look at your schedule and carve out some time to recharge your batteries in the coming days, be it alone or with a friend. Even if it’s just a movie or coffee date, you’ll have some down time built in to what might be an otherwise overwhelming week. “Replenish yourself,” Mercedes says. “Put it into your schedule.”
She’s also adamant that choosing and sticking to a set bedtime during the week can help counteract stress, especially if you’re able to turn your phone off before you hit the sheets. “Schedule and honor your bedtime,” she says. “Go put on your pajamas!”