As we start to recover from winter and the holiday seasons, March is a turning point in the calendar that calls on spring and the start of another spell of warmth, sunlight, and fresh air. Alongside this, March also brings with it Brain Health Awareness Month. As the controlling organ of the body, the brain is what keeps us moving each day and it is important to make sure we are nurturing it and taking care of our brain health. March is a time of year when the world naturally supports us in cleansing the winter blues while it brings us earlier sunrises, lush green regrowth, and typically some warmer temperatures. These aspects of seasonal change help our brains receive natural vitamins that support healing.
To support brain health, a task we can take on ourselves is soul-care. Soul-care looks different to each person but ensuring you take at least a few moments for yourself at least once a week can help improve your mental health. Soul-care can look like anything from indulging in a little treat, watching your favourite show, or going out with a trusted friend, to list a few, though the soul-care list is ultimately full of endless possibilities. Additionally, abandoning old habits of comfort and getting out and communicating with others as part of soul-care. Loneliness is at an all time high in our societies and combating this helps with overall self-care and mental wellbeing.
Not only is March Brain Health Awareness Month, but it also holds World Sleep Day on March 14th. Mental health and healthy sleep practices have strong correlations and connections to each other. Through sleep, we are able to do things such as regulate our emotions, function properly on a day-to-day basis, and process experiences throughout our lives. Healthy practices such as minimizing screen time before bed or maintaining a schedule can play a beneficial part in the kind of sleep we have.
Not only is it important to recognize and be aware of the amount of sleep we are getting, but the quality of the sleep we receive each night is equally crucial. The average person should be getting approximately one to two hours of REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep per night. REM sleep is the stage where your brain is in its deepest level of sleep and where we get the most quality sleep. Something to be aware of is if you are waking up still tired after a full night’s rest, if you wake with headaches, or find that you wake up often from your sleep to use the washroom or drink water, you might have some form of sleep disorder and it may be worthwhile for you to discuss it with your family doctor if you have concerns. At the end of the day, a healthy sleep can greatly improve your quality of life by improving both your mental and physical health.
Each person has the capability of doing something to improve their own mental wellness during this Brain Health Awareness Month be it through getting some fresh air, participating in some soul-care, combatting loneliness, or learning to understand our own sleep. Ultimately, with this knowledge everyone can take a positive step towards improving their mental well-being this March.
