5 TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH

5 Ways to Look After Your Mental Health

The importance of good mental health cannot be underestimated. Read on for 5 ways you can improve your mental health today to boost your overall health.

What do we mean by mental health?

If you are looking for effective tips to improve mental health, kudos to you for recognizing its value in your life. The word ‘health’ almost always conjures up thoughts about physical health. But your physical health alone cannot keep you healthy. Did you know that your health is intricately linked to your mental state?

Here is a simple example of this link. A feeling of being low or anxious can drain your physical energy, affect your food habits, and disturb your sleep – all of which impact your physical health.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), mental health is a wide umbrella that includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It influences how you think, act, behave and feel. It also impacts how we handle stressful situations, behave with others, function in our daily lives, and have a healthy lifestyle. Mental health, just like physical health, is important throughout life at every stage.

The importance of good mental health

It is very common for people to ignore this facet of health and go about their lives. However, ignorance about mental health can have dire effects on one’s physical, emotional, psychological, and social well-being.

If you are wondering why maintaining mental hygiene is important, you are not alone! Before we learn a few tips to improve mental health, here are some reasons why it is so crucial: 

a) It helps you remain physically active and healthy.

b) It enables you to understand yourself.

c) It helps you realize your true potential.

d) It impacts how you feel and think every day.

e) It determines your behavior with others.

f) It enables you to work more productively.

g) It motivates you to contribute to the society and community you live in.

h) It creates a sense of empathy in you.

i) It helps you cope effectively with the ups and downs in life.

j) It strengthens your immunity and prevents diseases and disorders.
 

Factors that can affect your mental health

Before we read more about tips to improve mental health, you must understand the factors that can impact it:

1) Genetic factors: Your genetic makeup and hereditary traits play a huge role in determining your mental constitution and health.

2) Experiences in life: We are all born happy and unaware of the world around us. We differ from each other not just in appearance, but the experiences that we come across in life. Trauma or abuse can significantly impact your mental balance.

3) Familial history of mental health illnesses: People who have a family member with mental illness or disorders may have issues managing their mental hygiene.

4) Lifestyle: Despite all other factors indicating mental stability, a lot is riding on your lifestyle too. Factors like diet, physical activity, stress, and substance and alcohol abuse can affect it.

In most cases, your mental state is determined by the interaction between these factors.

Signs of mental health problems

As mental health crises do not cause direct signs and symptoms, a majority of cases go undiagnosed. Also, due to poor awareness about its importance, most people are unaware that they have mental health issues.

Suppose you are experiencing strong negative emotions, low on energy, dealing with chronic stress, frequent bouts of loneliness or mood swings, confused thoughts, etc. In such persistent cases, you must consult a mental health professional or a mental health therapist.

Tips to improve mental health

To work on your mental state, you do not need to have a particular illness or disorder. Just like we eat a good diet, exercise, and take care of our physical health every day, we must also take a few steps to manage our mental hygiene. Here are five tips to improve mental health:

1. Practice gratitude

A good way to build mental health is by practicing gratitude. We are all, intentionally or unintentionally, pushed into the rat race of life and tend to be affected by failure. To safeguard a stable mental state, you must practice gratitude. This involves developing a habit of being ‘thankful’ for what you have.
A good way to begin this practice is by keeping a gratitude journal and writing down three things you are thankful for each day.

2. Take care of your body

One of the effective tips to improve mental health is to take care of your body. Your mental and physical health affect each other mutually. Here is what you can do to take care of your physical health that can boost your mental health:
a) Eat a healthy, nutritious diet every day.

b) Drink lots of water and keep yourself hydrated.

c) Get your daily minimum of 30 minutes of exercise or physical activity, as it reduces depression and improves your mood.

d) Get enough sleep, as lack of sleep is believed to cause depression.

3. Value yourself

Very early on, we are all taught to treat others with love, kindness, and respect. We are told not to be overly critical or rude to those around us. But, most of us forget to treat and value ourselves at the same level as we do others. For good mental health, we must value ourselves. 

Make time in your busy schedule for hobbies, projects that you love, understanding something new, or just anything that makes you feel happy! At the same time, treat yourself with kindness, and respect and avoid being too critical about your weaknesses or flaws. Work and build on your strengths and accept your weaknesses. Always hold yourself in high regard – the same way you regard others.

4. Surround yourself with good people

Among the many tips to improve mental health, surrounding yourself with good, supportive people is a very useful one. Humans are social beings and have always been. We need people around us who we depend on for different emotions, feelings, and more. Even the most introverted individual requires a support system in their life. 

Having a strong support system in your friends and family and strong social connections is essential for good mental health. Strengthen your relationships with supportive family members and friends who will have your back and make you feel safe. 

5. Seek help whenever you need it

Many people believe that asking for help is a sign of weakness when in contrast, it is a sign of strength. It takes a lot of effort to accept that you need help and speak up about it. When looking for tips to improve mental health, most people do not consider ‘seeking help’ as an effective tip. When you have the strength and courage to seek or find help, you are taking one step towards improving your mental stability.

Consult with a behavioral and mental health resources on Wellness Forever – all of which can keep your mental hygiene at its best! As it is the building block for your overall health, you must always look for ways to improve it.