6 Ways to Improve Your Mental Health

Though the term ‘mental health’ has become associated with mental illness, it’s something for everyone to consider as part of their overall well-being.

Looking after your emotional and psychological wellness is just as important an endeavor as caring for your physical health, as it impacts the way you feel about your life and your ability to manage stress.

Make decisions and enjoy all the good that life has to offer. To take the best care of your mental health that you can, read on for tips to help you maximize your efforts to boost your emotional wellness.

Your mental and physical health are linked: when one begins to suffer, the other may also see a downhill turn.

It’s a lot harder to maintain a sense of mental wellness when you’re overtired, sick, undernourished and dehydrated. Wellness experts such as D. Gary Young recommend taking a holistic approach to your health.

This includes all aspects of your personal wellness in both your mental and physical health journey. Research has shown that by taking care of your body, you do a lot to take care of your mind. Make sure that you get at least seven hours of sleep each night.

Maintain an exercise regimen that allows you to perform at least 150 minutes of exercise each week. As well, focus on getting plenty of water throughout the day.

And consider healthy meals a source of fuel for both your body and your mind.

Loneliness, whether real or perceived, has an incredibly detrimental effect on your system. Human beings are naturally social creatures and need to maintain positive, healthy relationships with others.

Experience optimal health. Strong social ties not only make it easier to manage the ups and downs of life.

Also provide a forum for support that goes both ways, which can give your brain a boost of feel-good hormones when you connect with others.

Numerous studies have shown that the more you are able to express your innermost thoughts and feelings, the better you’re likely to feel.

Rather than keeping your thoughts bottled up in your head, grab a journal and write your feelings down without judgment. You may find that letting it all out in a safe.

Private space can relieve some of the mental burdens you experience when things get tough. As well, make time to express gratitude in your journal for things you have in your life that bring you joy.

Make things easier or invite fun and enjoyment to your world. The more you can focus on what you have to be grateful for, the easier it will be to see the things that are going right for you.

Many unpleasant mental health symptoms, including irritability, sad feelings, lack of interest in activities, changes in appetite or routine and mood swings can often be traced to an event or certain conditions that either bring about or worsen the symptoms.

Take time to become acquainted with the things that may send you into a mood spiral or disrupt your inner world, and try to consider ways to avoid, minimize or support yourself through these triggers.

While you may not be able to avoid stressors entirely, you can give yourself healthy tools to manage the thoughts, feelings and behaviors that arise as a reaction to them.

Many healthy coping mechanisms include deep breathing exercises, meditation, mindfulness practices, grounding routines and distraction tactics that can help to diffuse the intense feelings of stress or overwhelm that happen when triggers crop-up.

Even when you don’t feel like it, it’s important to try to have fun and keep things a little lighthearted–especially in dark times.

Make some time to engage in favorite hobbies or invite laughter into your world. Whenever you can, let loose. This not only balances out the hard times, but it can make it easier to process some of the bigger things you have going on.