KENTUCKY ⁠— Devoting time each day to self-care can go a long way toward staying mentally, physically and spiritually healthy.

Mental health professionals have spent years trying to take away the stigma that mental health has. The coronavirus pandemic has people worried about jobs, bills, loved ones and the virus itself.

Shannon Gonter, a professional clinical counselor, said that people need to make self-care a priority.

“Taking a deep breath and allowing yourself the time to have those transitional periods,” said Gonter. 

This helps the brain readjust focus to other matters. Practices like yoga, exercise and a healthy diet are other great examples of self-care.

“Just getting enough sleep that is fantastic self-care, watching diet stuff and intimacy is all physical self-care,” said Gonter.

Even some day-to-day tasks can be self-care if we take a moment to center our intentions and focus.

“Just take that time to slow things down and reevaluate what’s working for you and maybe what’s not.”