Society has placed a stigma on the term “mental illness” giving it a negative connotation. This leads to mental health being one of the least talked about topics when it comes to our overall well-being. One in four people are said to have a mental illness or a mental disorder, this number is equivalent to around 450 million individuals, worldwide.
While we all know the importance behind our physical health, what we fail to realize is that mental health is just as important. The smallest things can have the largest impact, whether its a positive or negative. These tips will help you put your mental health first.
Start With Reflection
The best way to begin to understand your mental health is by self-reflection. Self-reflection can help you get to know and understand yourself better.
In order to be mentally healthy, we must know what affects our mood and by taking a few minutes each night to reflect over your day will help you realize what instances affected your mood.
This should only take five to ten minutes and it will give you the foundation for great mental health.
Limit The Negatives
After you have taken a few minutes to discover what brought negativity into your life, the next step is to create a plan on how to remove some of the toxic traits.
This could mean limiting your social media or removing yourself from the situations that cause you stress. By reducing those negatives, you will slowly begin to feel better!
Find The Positives
Much like limiting the negatives, it is important to find the good in your life. If you solely focus on what brings your mood down, you’re mental health will fall to a disadvantage.
Finding the things that make you happy is another great way to keep your mental health in check. Understanding what boosts your mood allows you to spend more time doing these things.
Some good mood boosters include, chatting with friends, reading and listening to music.
Fuel Your Body
Another way that you can start to boost your mental health is by changing up your diet. Many people say that food is directly correlated to our mood, hence why you may get irritable when you are hungry.
A simple fix is to incorporate healthy snacks into our days. The healthier we eat, the better we will feel. You can also try including some healthy herbs into your diet to help reduce serious illnesses too!
Having a serious illness can take a toll on your mental health, so reduce some of these conditions with heart-healthy alternatives!
Exercise Regularly
Exercise is linked to releasing endorphins into our bloodstream, which will help lift our moods instantly. If you need a quick fix to improve your mental health, hit the gym for a quick sweat sesh.
One of the best times to add exercise to your daily routine, is first thing in the morning. This way you can start your day on a positive note.
Exercise will not only help boost your mood by using hormonal changes, but it can also help your physical appearance, making you happier long term.
Learn To Love Your Physical Appearance
Body image has been known to affect mental health in many. Luckily, we can fix this problem by making some time for our physical well being.
Learning to love your body may take some time, but to start, stand in front of the mirror and look at the pieces of yourself that you don’t like and come up with at least one positive thing about them.
This will help you to stop picking out all the flaws, but instead allow you to pick out the things you love.
Next, set aside some time to relax and take care of yourself with the many products out there designed for pampering at home. Some great ways to self-indulge include doing things like a facemask, taking a long bath or or purchasing new products to pamper with.
Take advantage of the many great companies out there that sell these products and also support mental health causes, such as Dr. Brandt, a skin care product line and Harry’s who provides specialty razors.
Not only could these brands aid in your self-care process, but both have been known to help educate individuals on the importance of mental health through their foundations.
Self-pampering should include things that you may not have time for in your day to day life, making those ten extra minutes, even more special.
Set Small Reminders
Leaving yourself some small notes is another great way to help boost your mental health. One of the best places to do this is on your bathroom mirror, since it’s one of the first things you see in the morning.
Leaving a message like “You are worth it” or even as simple as “smile” can give you the little nudge that you need to make the day great!
Adding inspirational quotes to your journal or planner can also give you a friendly reminder throughout the day, that it’s all going to work out.
Mental health can be a tricky subject to navigate, but it is very important to put it first. These tips are meant to aid you in doing so. If you are struggling with your mental health, it is okay and encouraged to talk to someone.
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Help is available at Lifeline. You can call Lifeline’s 24 hour crisis line 13 11 14
