As you know, mental health is just as important as physical health. Whereas we explained in the previous article the definition of mental health. So in this article, we decided to talk more about our mental health care tips.
1. Keep active
Experts believe exercise releases chemicals in your brain that make you feel good. Regular exercise can boost your self-esteem and help you concentrate, sleep and feel better. Exercise also keeps the brain and your other vital organs healthy.
Exercising doesn’t just mean doing sport or going to the gym. Walks in the park, gardening, or housework can also keep you active. Experts say most people should do about 30 minutes’ exercise at least five days a week.
Try to make a physical activity that you enjoy a part of your day. You can use the Habitomic app in this regard to make doing exercise a habit for yourself.
2. Eat well
There are strong links between what we eat and how we feel, for example, caffeine and sugar can have an immediate effect. But food can also have a long-lasting effect on your mental health. Your brain needs a mix of nutrients to stay healthy and function well, just like the other organs in your body. A diet that’s good for your physical health is also good for your mental health.
A healthy balanced diet includes:
- lots of different types of fruit and vegetables
- wholegrain cereals or bread
- nuts and seeds
- dairy products
- oily fish
- plenty of water.
Eat at least three meals each day and drink plenty of water. Try to limit how many high-caffeine or sugary drinks you have, and avoid too much alcohol.
3. Drink sensibly
We often drink alcohol to change our mood. Some people drink to deal with fear or loneliness, but the effect is only temporary. When the drink wears off, you feel worse because of the way alcohol withdrawal symptoms affect your brain and the rest of your body.
Drinking is not a good way to manage difficult feelings. Apart from the damage too much alcohol can do to your body, you would need more and more alcohol each time to feel the same short-term boost. There are healthier ways of coping with tough times.
Occasional light drinking is perfectly healthy and enjoyable for most people. Stay within the recommended weekly alcohol limits:
- 14 units a week for both men and women
Many people also smoke or use drugs or other substances to change how they feel. But, again, the effects are short-lived. Just like alcohol, the more you use, the more you crave. Nicotine and drugs don’t deal with the causes of difficult feelings. They don’t solve problems, they create them.
4. Take a break
A change of scene or a change of pace is good for your mental health. It could be a five-minute pause from cleaning your kitchen, a half-hour lunch break at work, or a weekend exploring somewhere new.
A few minutes can be enough to de-stress you. Give yourself some “me-time”. Taking a break may mean being very active. It may mean not doing very much at all. You can take a deep breath and relax, do yoga or meditation, or just put your feet up.
Listen to your body. If you’re really tired, give yourself time to sleep. Without good sleep, our mental health suffers and our concentration goes downhill.
5. Get plenty of sleep
Adults should get as close to 8 hours of sleep per night as they can. Although every individual’s body differs sleep is essential for learning and improving daily productivity. If you have a problem with sleeping, you can read this article.
6. Talk about your feelings
Talking about your feelings can help you stay in good mental health and deal with times when you feel troubled. Talking about your feelings isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s part of taking charge of your well-being and doing what you can to stay healthy.
Talking can be a way to cope with a problem you’ve been carrying around in your head for a while. Just being listened to can help you feel supported and less alone. And it works both ways. If you open up, it might encourage others to do the same.
7. Keep in touch
Strong family ties and supportive friends can help you deal with the stresses of life. Friends and family can make you feel included and cared for. They can offer different views from whatever’s going on inside your head. They can help keep you active, keep you grounded and help you solve practical problems.
It’s worth working on relationships that make you feel loved or valued. But if you think being around someone is damaging your mental health, it may be best to take a break from them or call it a day completely. It’s possible to end a relationship in a way that feels ok for both of you.
8. Care for others
Caring for others is often an important part of keeping up relationships with people close to you. It can even bring you closer together. Helping out can make you feel needed and valued and that boosts your self-esteem. It also helps you see the world from another angle. That can help to put your problems in perspective.
Caring for a pet can improve your well-being too. The bond between you and your pet can be as strong as between people. Looking after a pet can bring structure to your day and act as a link to other people. Lots of people make friends by chatting with fellow dog walkers.
9. Accept who you are
Some of us make people laugh, some are good at maths, others cook fantastic meals. Some of us share our lifestyle with the people who live close to us, others live very differently.
We’re all different. It’s much healthier to accept that you’re unique than to wish you were more like someone else. Feeling good about yourself boosts your confidence to learn new skills, visit new places and make new friends.
Good self-esteem helps you cope when life takes a difficult turn.
Be proud of who you are. Recognize and accept what you are not good at, but focus on what you can do well.
10. Do something you’re good at
Enjoying yourself helps beat stress. Doing an activity you enjoy probably means you’re good at it and achieving something boosts your self-esteem. Concentrating on a hobby like gardening or the crossword can help you forget your worries for a while and change your mood.
In the end, our mental health care is not something you want to ignore. None of us are superhuman. We all sometimes get tired or overwhelmed by how we feel or when things go wrong. If things are getting too much for you and you feel you can’t cope, ask for help. Always remember that asking for help is not a weakness. Rather, it shows that you value your health.