6 Ways To Boost Your Mental Health
Keeping up with your mental health can sometimes mean seeking support from a mental health professional, but it can also mean taking the everyday steps needed to boost your mental and emotional wellness.
Here are eight things you can do every day to boost your mental health:
Start your day on a positive note
Having a morning routine is good, but making sure you’re starting your day on a positive note is important, too. Showing gratitude, whether it’s towards yourself, someone else or something else, can improve your mental health and emotional well-being.
Instead of firing up your social media apps as soon as you wake up, take some time to give yourself a compliment or to acknowledge something or someone you’re grateful for. Or do both! Promoting feelings of self-worth can have a powerful effect on your mood, and keeping a journal of the things or people you’re grateful for can help fill you with joy and happiness.
Stay present
It can be easy to fixate on questions like: What if? Why me? and What’s next?
But these questions can distract your mind from enjoying life and completing the tasks at hand. In fact, research shows that “a wandering mind is an unhappy mind.”
Rather than thinking about what isn’t even actually happening right now, focus on what is happening. Your coffee is hot. This new playlist sounds fun. Your dog looks extra fluffy today. This banana tastes perfectly ripened.
Whether it’s a sound, smell, taste or sight, focusing on physical sensations you’re experiencing can help quiet your busy mind and ground you in the present moment.
Make time for exercise
We all know that exercising regularly is an important part of maintaining a healthy weight, and you may also know that it benefits your heart. But exercise also benefits your brain — supporting cognitive function, improving mood and reducing stress and anxiety.
This means that regular exercise, even if it’s just a 20 minutes a day, can help you cope with stress and improve your overall mental health. It’s also a great way to feel a sense of accomplishment, as well as a healthy way to take control of your life during a time of uncertainty.
Set goals for yourself
There’s nothing like the feeling of accomplishment. Whether it’s losing 10 pounds, saving up money for a down payment or getting that promotion you’ve been gunning for — achieving a goal can help boost your self-esteem and self-worth.
One thing to keep in mid while setting goals, though, is to make sure they’re realistic. Your goals should be challenging, but should also play toward your strengths. In addition, make sure you can devote the time and effort needed to achieve the goals you’re setting. If there’s something you’d like to do, but are unsure how realistic it might be, consider trying it as a hobby first.
Take sleep seriously
Most nights, it’s probably pretty easy to choose that TV episode that’s currently being queued up for you over getting some shut-eye. But that voice in the back of your mind saying, “It’s time for bed,” is almost always right.
This means it’s important to make sure you’re getting enough sleep every single night. It’s also important to make sure you’re setting yourself up for sleep success — by doing things like avoiding staring at your devices before bed.
Lack of sleep, as well as low-quality sleep, can have a big impact on how you feel the next day. It can make you more irritable, as well as reduce your ability to concentrate on the tasks at hand.
Don’t be ashamed to ask for help you also can visit Gotriage .com and request teleconsultation with mental health specialist .
Admitting that you’re struggling is hard, but there’s no shame in it.
If you feel like stress, sadness or negative feelings are starting to pile up, try confiding in a friend or family member. Talking to someone about your concerns can help you process your feelings more fully, and may help reduce some of the burden you’re feeling. It may also strengthen the bond between yourself and another person especially if he or she is experiencing the same struggles. All of these things can help improve your mood.
If you’re concerned about your mental health and want to speak with a mental health professional, we are here to help www.gotriage.com