This post discusses five simple ways to improve your everyday mental health.
Do you get frustrated, upset, or depressed easily?
If so, it could be time for a mental health check.
The mind is a powerful thing but it’s also extremely fragile and requires a bit of effort on our part to keep it functioning optimally.
Operating in a poor mental state for long periods can be detrimental to your overall well-being.
And while seeking professional help is always encouraged (if you can), there are other pathways you can take to care for the mind as well.
Below are five simple ways to improve your everyday mental health.
Difference Between Mental Health & Mental Illness
Mental health and mental illness are often used interchangeably but there is an important distinction between the two.
Mental health refers to an individual’s mental, emotional, and social well-being.
Mental illness, on the other hand, is a diagnosable condition that impacts thoughts and behaviors.
Any person can suffer from a poor mental state but not every person suffers from a mental illness.
With that said, not everyone who has a mental illness has poor mental health.
Signs of Poor Mental Health
Keeping our minds healthy should be a daily task, just like moving the body.
We have to become almost hyper-sensitive to our thoughts and emotions. This will help us identify issues with our mental states so we can do something about it.
Here are a few things to look for:
Lack of concentration
Feeling tired, overwhelmed, or a lack of energy
Antisocial
Drinking heavily
Difficulty controlling emotions
Taking a step back to notice when you are behaving out of character provides the clarity to improve your mental health.
Sometimes, we experience these symptoms and disregard them.
The problem starts when the issues go ignored for too long, then they evolve past a point where they can no longer be ignored.
This can lead to illness and even violence towards yourself and or others.
Checking in with yourself should be an everyday process.
It doesn’t take much time or effort to say to yourself “Hey, I just snapped at that person. Am I doing okay?” Or “Why have I been so sluggish lately? Am I overworking myself?”
Being aware of when you’re going off the tracks can help you correct course and bring harmony back into your life.
Improving Your Mental Health
Once you’ve picked up on the problem, it’s time to do something about it. Fortunately, there are so many avenues you can take to elevate your mental state.
Below are just five of the most unique ways to improve your mental health.
Don’t Focus on the Negative
We as humans tend to focus predominantly on the negative. It’s not our fault but rather an inherited evolutionary trait.
The reason for this is similar to why we feel pain, it is simply the body’s way of keeping us safe.
However, even though we have this inclination, the longer we hold on to a negative event regardless of how trivial, the easier it’ll be to dismiss positive experiences.
This, of course, will have a dramatic impact on our mental health.
Though it may seem difficult at first, the best way to combat a negative streak is to not dwell on the bad.
Okay, you dropped your coffee or a person cut you off in traffic.
Both feel like apocalyptic events but that doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world.
Neither is it a bad omen.
Try your best to remain positive and don’t sweat the small things.
There is so much good happening in the world and so much to be grateful for whether we know it or not.
See the situation as always working out for you.
Fine, you dropped your coffee. But maybe that gives you an excuse to buy an even larger one later where you have more time to sit back and enjoy it.
Perhaps you were cut off in traffic, but it could be a subtle reminder for you to start your mornings off earlier, so you can take your time and feel more relaxed.
Focus on positives like having the money to buy luxuries like coffee or sustaining a reliable job so you can take care of yourself.
Practicing mindfulness techniques such as abdominal breathing, yoga, meditation, and journaling can be a big help with embracing the positive sides of life.
Refuse to Spar With People
Negativity is contagious and those who partake in this behavior often do so unconsciously.
Rarely do these individuals reflect on their own emotions or mental states.
And if they’re not aware of how they feel or what they think, they are not in conscious control of their actions.
These people wonder about looking for others to spar with and if you are not careful, you’ll also go unconscious.
The best way to handle a negative person is to not engage with them. It’s easier said than done but there’s no harm in trying.
Distancing yourself from people like this, when possible, and never react without thinking.
Be Alone
Sometimes if you notice your mental health is waning, it could simply mean that you need to spend more time by yourself.
In this golden age of technology, we never have to feel alone.
But feeling alone and being alone are two different things.
Think of “feeling alone” as being lonely.
Loneliness indicates a negative emotion congruent with isolation.
That’s not to say it’s always about the number of people you have in your life but rather how connected you feel to them in terms of trust, accountability, and emotional support.
Being alone, on the other hand, can be very beneficial for your mental health.
Spending some alone time with yourself invokes inspiration and rejuvenation, as well as ignites inner passions.
You may take up a hobby like writing, reading, crafts, gardening, etc… You could use this period to think, meditate, or breathe.
In the moments of overstimulation, whether by workload, technology, or people, you may want to enjoy your own company.
And why not? You’re freaking awesome!
Exercise
Of course, exercise helps reduce all kinds of health conditions such as hypertension and arthritis, but you can also use it to treat mental issues.
Exercising daily eases symptoms of depression and anxiety while working to elevate your mood. It may even prevent the flare-ups.
If you’re not a huge fan of working out, you can also obtain the same effects by doing physical activities like gardening or cleaning your house.
Create A Purpose
Living without a defined purpose may cause some people to go about life feeling utterly miserable.
They may start to wonder what’s the point or even what they’re living for.
Negative feelings such as anger, depression, anxiety, and frustration could also arise as a result.
The good news is, research has shown that people who possess a strong sense of purpose and meaning in life often have better mental health and overall well-being.
For instance, studies reveal individuals possessing a strong sense of purpose are less likely to suffer from heart attacks, strokes, and dementia.
Moreover, in a different study, participants who felt a strong sense of purpose were able to manage their stress levels and got a better night’s rest than those who lacked this sentiment.
Maintaining a profound direction in life was linked to other benefits like improved memory and cognitive function.
There is also a direct correlation between having purpose and lower bouts of depression but then the question becomes: how does one find purpose?
The answer may be simpler than you think… just create one.
That’s right! No need to wait for some great sign to define your purpose. Instead, you could decide what will give your life more meaning.
Think of what you like to do or about something you have a powerful emotional connection to.
Ask yourself questions.
Why am I living where I am?
Why do I work where I work? Etc…
Anything can be a life purpose if you want it to be.
Maintaining Your Mental Health
Caring for your mental health is a necessary component of your wellness journey.
Therefore, try to become more aware of your emotions and take action when necessary to get yourself back into harmony.
Never be afraid to acknowledge and talk about your feelings. If you don’t have anyone to share these emotions with, maybe it’s time to expand your social circle. Or put it down on paper.
Lastly, take breaks. We are not the cute little energizer bunny you see on TV.
We can’t go on for hours and hours without taking a breather nor should we. Make yourself a priority. Remember, you don’t need anyone’s permission to do what’s best for you.
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