Mental Health is just as important as physical health!
Just like we look after our physical health it’s vitally important to care of our mental health too! While our lives can be very busy and even draining at times there are a few simple things we can do every day to make sure we keep on top of our mental wellbeing. Read on for five top tips on how to improve and look after your mental health!
Connecting with other people:
So, this first one might sound simple but maintaining good relationships with family and friends is really important for your mental wellbeing. Humans are social creatures by design and connecting with other people allows us to feel that sense of community and belonging! Simple things like having a conversation with a friend, playing a game online with others, and even being part of groups and societies can give us an opportunity to share positive experiences and provide or receive emotional support from people we care about. Don’t face your struggles alone, always reach out to someone!
Keeping active:
Keeping active and healthy is one of the most essential parts of being and feeling positive. Exercise has been scientifically proven to produce endorphins which cause chemical changes in your brain and help to positively impact your mood. Exercise doesn’t have to be running on the treadmill either, it can be incorporated into social activities, team sports and leisurely activities like taking the dog for a walk! Keeping active can be fun and rewarding for your body and mind!
Getting enough sleep:
Good-quality sleep makes a big difference to how we feel physically and mentally, so it's very important to get enough. Lack of sleep often goes hand in hand with poor mood, heightened anxiety, or increased stress. Doctors recommend at least 8 hours of sleep a night to help your body prepare for the day!
However, if you still struggle to sleep and need extra support there are lots of great apps you can use to help relax your mind before bed, check out Headspace to learn about mindfulness and how to get a better nights sleep!
Being grateful for what we have:
We all struggle with issues occurring in our day to day lives however there’s a good chance you can think of at least one thing you may be lucky to have or feel grateful for! Got it yet? Good, write that down somewhere!
Relevant studies have found that writing down what you’re grateful for in the present moment, is an effective way of improving your mental wellbeing. Reflecting upon these moments and remembering what we have instead of what we wish we had can make us realise just how lucky we are. Try to find something you’re grateful for each day and write it down, maybe on your phone or in a notebook, read this back at the end of the week and see how many things you have to be grateful for, I bet you’ll be surprised!
Learning something new:
Last but definitely not least, learning a new skill is one of the best things you can do for you and your mental wellbeing. Not only does learning something new keep our minds active and our bodies busy but it can also be incredibly rewarding. Even if you’re a busy person and you could only spend 20 minutes a day towards this new skill that’s still 2 hours per week and you could learn to do so many cool things! You could start a new DIY house project, you could learn a new recipe, you could learn how to play an instrument, the options are endless and highly rewarding! So, what are you waiting for? Go and discover your new skill!
Summary:
Hopefully upon the completion of this article you may have learned a thing or two that you can implement into your life today, if not that’s okay! Just remember one thing, mental health is a very serious issue that needs to be taken care of, it’s okay to feel sad and its okay to feel down, and if you’re ever struggling with your mental health there’s always somebody who cares… even if you don’t.
If you or anyone you know is suffering please feel free to reach out to any of the following support/helplines:
NHS emergency phoneline - call 111 (Option 2), for a mental health crisis.
Samaritans - call 116 123, to talk to someone about your issues.
SHOUT – text “SHOUT” to 852 58, to talk to trained mental health professional.
Lifeline – call 0800 808 2121, 9am – 11pm, 365 days a year.
Have an amazing day! :)
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