Just as taking care of your physical wellbeing is important, so is taking care of your mental health. The state of your mental health determines how you feel about yourself, about others, and the management of your emotional wellbeing. Mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to his or her community. So, how can you ensure that your mental health is in good shape? Here are four effective ways to improve your mental health.
1. Declare positive affirmations daily
What you think about yourself plays a significant role in how you feel. If you perceive yourself with negative thoughts, self-hate, disrespect, and self-doubt, you only worsen your mental health and put yourself in an unhealthy emotional state. Instead, treat yourself with kindness and love. Adopt the habit of proclaiming positive things upon yourself. Encourage yourself to look at the positive side rather than dwell on the bad. Remind yourself that you are beautiful, intelligent, and driven. Look at the positive side during a crisis and look for ways you can do better. Doing this daily would build and promote feelings of self-worth, self-confidence, self-love, and personal power.
2. Keep a gratitude journal
Over the years, research has shown that an effective way of improving your mental health is gratitude. Keeping a gratitude journal can help you implement the attitude of gratitude for an extended period. It encourages you to celebrate your wins- no matter how small, it enables you to stay positive and significantly improves your mood. In the long term, it also reduces your stress levels, improves your sleep, and reduces your risk of heart disease.
3. Eat well
You are what you eat, and this is not just about your physical health. Much of what you eat also enriches the brain and mind. For example, moderate amounts of carbohydrates increase the chemical serotonin, which has a calming effect on your mood. Include foods enriched in protein and Omega-3 polyunsaturated fats to improve your emotional health and improve your brain cells and cognitive functions. You can visit Express Pharmacy Online or your local pharmacy to purchase supplements to ensure that you receive the required amount of these brain-food nutrients.
4. Talk to people
Sometimes, keeping everything to yourself can do you more harm than good. Contrary to what you may think, acknowledging you need help and getting it is a form of strength, not a weakness. Reach out to a mental health expert such as a psychologist, therapist, or social worker to overcome some mental health challenges you are experiencing. It would help if you also surrounded yourself with people who understand and are healthy for mental wellbeing. Avoid the company of negative, toxic people that hinder your journey to positive mental health.
It is crucial to take the necessary steps to improve your mental health, affecting your body. Dealing with depression and anxiety, for example, may cause respiratory issues, intestinal complications, and poor quality of sleep. Use these four effective methods and explore other options such as exercise, meditating, volunteering, and so on to effectively improve your mental health.
Some great tips here. I always find that I feel better when I get out for a walk
We love a walk, it really lifts our spirits x
I love all of these ideas and do them all. I love my gratitude journal and I pull an affirmation card every morning x
I stopped my gratitude journal for a while (not intentionally) but I have just started again and it feels so much betterx
I agree with all of these especially eating well and talking to others – I find these both super helpful
Laura x
Talking to others should never be underestimated, it’s definitely a case of a problem shared is a problem halved xx