Making beneficial changes to your mental health can drastically improve your life, how you live, your outlook and everything else in between. In a time when around 1 in 4 people will experience mental health issues within 12 months, doing what you can to help support your mental health has never been so important.
But first, what exactly are we talking about when considering mental health? Your mental health is your state of wellbeing, and it can be both positive and negative if you’re struggling with mental health, you’re likely not feeling your best, and you have some worries that are impacting your ability to engage with others s manage stress, reach your potential and generally live your best life.
With this in mind, what can you do to boost or preserve your mental health so that you feel your best mentally every day?
Get Outside More
Nature has long been a remedy for those mental health blues, and it’s little wonder why doctors tell people to get outside more when they’re feeling down. While not a cure-all for any mental health issues, being outdoors is a significant benefit. Even taking 15 minutes outside in the sun each day can be a game-changer for your mental health.
Exposure to nature and the world around you lets you see that there is much more than what’s happening in your head. If you are able to get out into the countryside or be on the coast, for example, the calming effects of nature can really boost serotonin levels. You can significantly boost your mental health, improve memory attention, and even improve control by committing to being outdoors as much as possible.
Add to this getting fresh air in your lungs, vitamin D from sunlight, the exercise you might get from walking or being outdoors, and the social connections possible, and it’s not hard to see why getting outdoors is integral to your health.
Quit Bad Habits
Are there things you are doing in your personal life that are impacting your mental health? Bad habits you can’t seem to break that are making you feel worse than you should be? Bad habits can be anything that doesn’t make you feel good. It can be smoking, which affects not only your physical health but also your mental wellbeing; it can be excessive exercise, leading to burnout and fatigue; it can be binge eating junk food, leading to you feeling sluggish and low energy or anything else you do on a regular basis that doesn’t help you feel your best and it has a negative impact.
You can get professional help to assist you in quitting many bad habits, especially those that are addictive, for example, smoking, alcoholism, gambling, etc. Professional help can provide you with the necessary support, guidance, and tools to break the hold of addiction. Your doctor, as well as support organisations and charities, which can be found in abundance to assist people in breaking the hold of addiction.
If it’s not an addiction and you feel you can reasonably stop or slowly eliminate your habit from your life, using support tools and alternative products can be beneficial.
Options like enforcing gambling controls or closing gaming accounts can help you spend less time online gambling. Switching to lower alcoholic drinks and reducing the number you drink to a safer level can be a good place to start, and utilising nicotine products from companies like Two Wombats can assist you in quitting smoking while still delivering that nicotine your body craves.
Exercise
Exercise is a powerful and scientifically proven method of boosting your mental health. Moving your body, working up a sweat and getting those endorphins flowing through the brain means you can experience that positive rush and glow (mentally) that a good workout can bring. It’s a tool that’s always within your reach, empowering you to take control of your mental wellbeing.
As reluctant as you might feel to get moving more, there are multiple health benefits to engaging in regular exercise in your life. You can hit the gym, start cardio or strength training, go for long walks, start swimming, ride a bike, join an exercise class, start home-based workouts, and take up a new sport. It doesn’t actually matter. What does matter is that you partake in at least 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise that raises your heart rate and is realistic for you, your body and your circumstances so you can keep it up regularly.
Balanced Diet
What you eat has a direct impact on your mental health. If you’re consuming junk food or excessive processed foods each day, it’s likely to negatively affect your mental wellbeing.
The effects of unhealthy diets can impact your body in many ways, from poor digestion, weight gain, low energy levels, and increased cravings. It’s important to be aware of these effects and make informed choices about your diet.
That’s not to say you need to eliminate everything deemed unhealthy from your diet. Simply add more of the good foods that offer you the vitamins and minerals you need and increase protein and healthy fats in a sustainable and beneficial way. The more you challenge your body with what it needs, the better you will feel physically, which can help you feel better mentally, too.
Get Social
Loneliness is a silent killer, and it’s often associated with older generations who become more isolated with age. But this can impact anyone at any age. But, not everyone is a social butterfly; being an introvert is okay. If you feel that being alone is better for your mental health than socialising, then this point isn’t for you.
However, for many people, that human connection is vital to their wellbeing, and missing out on it can be extremely negative. Talk to someone, join groups, find online chats with those interested in things you enjoy and start building a community or social circle that benefits your mental health, not detracts from it.
If you are struggling with your mental health, these tips can be great choices to implement. However, it’s imperative that you talk to your doctor to assist you in getting any further medical care or intervention to give you the support you need.