Mental health has had a bad rap for years, and in many cases, gets swept under the rug or is offered a band-aid solution. The wrong approach to mental health concerns makes them much worse, so understanding what mental health is and how to improve it will help raise awareness for others and yourself.
Before we talk further on mental health, we have to understand that mental health is a lot more than a diagnosis. Mental health is all about your overall psychological well being:, the ability to manage your emotions, the way you talk and feel about yourself and others, and how to generally cope with everyday difficulties.
It is a blessing that we have access to mental health care with professional help and treatment. However, getting access to such support isn’t always easy, on time or affordable, so it’s crucial to our wellbeing that we practice the following steps that can significantly improve your mental health until we can receive professional help.
Below are some of those steps that can improve your mental health.
Take Good Care of Your Body
A really great way you can take care of your mental health is to make sure you’re also taking care of your body. Ensure that you are incorporating the following into your lifestyle:
Follow a Healthy, Nutritious Diet
Add to your diet natural foods without any additives, chemicals, sugars, etc. as best as possible.
Fruits, vegetables, and non-processed foods are a wise choice!
Drink Plenty of Water
Drinking eight glasses of water per day, as much as possible, is a very healthy way to take care of your body! Ditch the soda and sugar-filled drinks and replace with good clean water, herbal teas or even naturally flavored water!
Can’t ditch the soda altogether? Try some seltzer water to get that fizz you like without the damage to your body!
Quit Your Dangerous Habits
It should go without saying because of all the banners, commercials, magazines, and laws we see around us, but it’s crucial to your mental health improvement if you quit smoking or doing drugs. These harmful habits can contribute negatively to your mental health.
If you find it hard to quit, seek some help from a Doctor on how to do so safely.
Get Proper Sleep
When taking care of your body, make sure also to get enough sleep because lack of sleep can contribute to depression.
The National Sleep Foundation recommends the following for each adult for a healthy sleeping habit:
- Younger adults (18-25): Sleep range is 7-9 hours (new age category)
- Adults (26-64): Sleep range did not change and remains 7-9 hours
- Older adults (65+): Sleep range is 7-8 hours (new age category)
If you are struggling to get good quality sleep, consider essential oils such as lavender to help calm your nerves and have better quality sleep or the Sleep Renewal & Support spray with Isagenix.
Exercise
Another vital factor in improving your mental health is to exercise! Exercising also helps decrease depression, anxiety, and improves your overall mood. When you work out, your body lets out ‘endorphins.’ Endorphins are chemicals that give out positive feelings within your body. These chemicals are so strong that they are very much like morphine!
Make an effort to do at least 30 minutes -1 hour of exercise every day, whether it’s going for a walk, working out, playing tennis, etc.
Take care of your body because your body will take care of your mental health in return!
Surround Yourself with Good People
People with positive family or social ties are generally healthier than those who do not have a support network. Plan social events with family and supportive friends or search for activities where you can meet new people, such as events, clubs, classes, or support groups.
Make sure that the family, friends, and other connections you surround yourself with are right for you because if they are emotionally harmful and negative, they can, in fact, derail your mental health! Listen to your intuition about such people because it’s usually correct.
Volunteer
Volunteering in your community or at local charities can be an instant mood-booster, which is excellent for your self-esteem! Look for some opportunities to help out others around you by asking around, looking through the local newspaper or online.
Volunteering has the power to make others feel great about the fact that they are helping and positively impacting other people’s lives, as well as, it can temporarily distract you from your daily worries which can be a load off of your mind. Helping others feel good helps you feel good; win-win!
Self-Care
When you live a busy professional life or have kids at home, it is always easy to feel like you have no time to yourself! However, your time is right in front of you; you just have to commit to it.
Commit to just a half an hour of alone time and use that time to listen to your favorite playlist, unwind with TV at the end of the day, read a book, take a bath or sit out in nature! Before you know it, you will feel relaxed enough to take on your daily duties and struggles.
Ask for Help
I cannot stress this enough but, asking for help is the most critical tip when it comes to improving your mental health! It’s entirely worth it.
When we see the word “help,” we usually think “weakness,” but asking for help is the opposite! Seeking help shows strength and not weakness, and treatment has shown many times to be effective.
People who receive proper treatment have an incredible chance of recovering from their mental illness, which then helps them live a healthy, positive, and satisfying life!
The Power to Help Yourself
The power to help yourself is in you if you accept it’s possible and that it’s there! It’s the most powerful when you see your mental health for what it is, when you accept you struggle with it and when you get the help you need, including sticking to these essential tips and to your new healthy lifestyle!
Top Priority
Your mental health should be on the list of top priorities in your life because if you wait too long, recovering will be very difficult and if you wait until it’s too late, recovery may never be possible.
Start implementing these essential tips into your life today and not tomorrow; start these new healthy habits right away! Making these changes pays off in every aspect of your life. It can increase your mood, increase your resilience, and increase the general enjoyment of your life.
Start slow but start NOW! Start with one change from this article and watch your mental health slowly improve, then add another and another until you feel your best self. Your best self will thank you!
Disclaimer: Please understand that not all mental health diagnoses are easy to treat and are all very different, to the point of life-threatening for some. Seek professional help by consulting your family physician, a mental health center in your area, counselor, or psychiatrist to talk more about your own mental health needs.
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