When people hear the term ‘mental health’, they often think of mental illnesses, such as anxiety and depression. However, mental health is a much broader term, describing the state of our mental well-being. Having good mental health makes us more able to deal with the stresses that daily life can often throw at us and allows us to lead happy and fulfilling lives. Maintaining and looking after our mental health is just as important as maintaining our physical health, even if you aren’t struggling with your mental health. It can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to keeping on top of our mental health, but here are five tips that can help you get started:
Five tips on looking after your mental health
1. Maintaining a routine – Having a regular and stable routine can help to decrease feelings of being overwhelmed. This can be as simple as going to bed at the same time every day, eating meals at similar times or planning to go for a daily walk.
2. Good sleep – Getting good-quality sleep can have a big impact on our mood and mental well-being. Sleep deficiency can impair our normal cognitive functioning, making us more irritable and less able to cope with daily stressors. Practising habits such as trying to reduce screen usage before going to sleep and cutting down on caffeine can make it easier to fall asleep.
3. Movement – Regular movement can positively impact how we feel. This can range from going to the gym to going for a short walk or stretching. Doing any form of exercise releases brain chemicals such as endorphins and serotonin, which can naturally boost your mood. Regular exercise can also improve sleep quality. Exercise can also be social, perhaps going on a walk with a friend or taking part in a team sport. Finding a form of movement that you enjoy is important – it can help with motivation and consistency. Trying new and different forms of movement can help you to find out what you enjoy and makes you feel good.
4. Breathing/mindfulness – Practising mindfulness can be extremely beneficial for maintaining good mental health and well-being. Mindfulness involves paying attention to the present, noticing what we’re feeling and what is currently going on around us. It can help us to slow down and avoid getting caught up in anxious and negative thoughts. It allows us to sit with unhelpful thoughts, recognise them and evaluate how helpful these thoughts actually are. Mindfulness can also help us notice signs of stress and anxiety earlier, making us more equipped and able to deal with them. It can be as simple as picking a time to sit down without distractions, such as your phone and check how you’re feeling and what is currently happening around you. Breathing exercises and meditation can be useful tools when practising mindfulness.
5. Connection – Isolating ourselves can be detrimental to our mental well-being. Maintaining good relationships with those close to us helps increase our sense of belonging and self-worth. It can also provide a sense of support, having someone to talk to when life feels overwhelming. This could look like sitting down with family members to eat dinner together or meeting a friend for coffee to catch up.
Hopefully these five tips can provide a useful starting point for taking better care of your mental health. There is no one way to take care of our mental health and well-being – what works for you may not work as well for others. Trying out new and different ways of taking care of your mental health can help you find what works for you. Consistency is key when taking care of our mental health, practising these habits often can maximise their benefits.
