Three ways to improve your mental health

 

It might seem like you’re the only one suffering, but an increasing amount of people are suffering from mental health problems. Whilst it can be hard to admit to friends and family that you’re having problems with mental health, it’s important to act now and don’t suffer in silence. Here are three ways you can help improve your mental health.

Look after yourself physically

One of the best ways to look after your mental health is to look after your physical health. Your body and mind are linked in more ways than you probably realise. If you feel good within your body, it could help you feel better mentally. No matter how busy you are or how much you feel like you want to stay under a blanket watching TV, make sure you set aside time every day to exercise. This doesn’t have to be as rigorous as visiting the gym or doing a workout video at home. Sometimes just a simple long walk is enough to get those muscles working. Not only will this improve your physical health, but it will also give you time to yourself away from those devices like our laptops and smartphones that can often have a negative effect on our mental health.

As well as exercise, be sure to treat your body now and again. There are lots of different holistic wellness products available online that make your body feel happier. These can range from anything like a moisturiser to make your skin feel softer to a specially designed tea to top up those all-important vitamin levels.

Reduce the things affecting your mental health

After a long and stressful day, many people might think the best thing to reach for is a glass of wine or another alcoholic drink. In reality, this is one of the worst things you could be reaching for. Alcohol might seem like something you drink with friends for more fun, but in fact, it can be a major depressant. Instead, consider drinking something that your body will properly appreciate. For example, there are many different teas with calming properties. You could even treat yourself to some dark chocolate, which has been scientifically proven to reduced stress hormones, including cortisol.

Seek further help

If you find you’re seriously struggling with your mental health, the most important thing to do is tell someone else. This could be someone you know and trust like a friend or family member. If you don’t feel like you can convey your feelings to anybody, you know, many services allow you to speak to a stranger about your problem anonymously. There are also lots of expert services you can seek advice from. One of the best places to start is to visit your doctor. Whilst it might not feel like a traditional illness that doctors treat, you shouldn’t feel like you’re wasting their time as mental health is just as big of a problem as many of the other things they see every day.