When it comes to staying healthy, it is important to focus not only on the physical side of things but mental health too. Thankfully, protecting your mental well-being can be straightforward if you know a thing or two about self-care. If you don’t know how to do self-care, here are a few top tips to help you give your mental well-being a boost and improve your overall health.
Build Meaningful Relationships
Building meaningful relationships with other people is important for mental health. Making good connections will allow you to share your feelings and emotions, support others while giving them a chance to do the same for you, and give you a feeling of self-worth and belonging. If you already have people you are close to, take time to be with them. Whether you prefer to share a meal with them at home, go out for brunch or arrange a fun day out, making an effort will ensure your relationships stay strong. You can also try strengthening your connections at work by spending your lunch break with your colleagues. Taking up a new hobby or volunteering for a good cause will also give you a chance to meet like-minded people.
Know When to Seek Support
It doesn’t matter if you’ve got a large network of friends or you can count your nearest and dearest on the one hand; it can be difficult to let people know you’re not okay. If you can’t turn to your loved ones and you feel as though you are overcome with emotion, seek support from a professional. Nicola Connery Counselling Corby can help you cope with any negative thoughts you may be experiencing and will help improve your mental health.
Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness is about paying attention to your environment and the way you feel and think in the present moment. Regularly practising mindfulness can help you appreciate your life more and help you become a more positive, grounded person. Some studies suggest that it can also reduce stress and change the way you approach life’s challenges.
Stay Active
The state of your health will vary depending on how you look after your mind and your body, and body positivity can have a huge impact on your mental health. Staying active and exercising regularly releases endorphins, which are ‘feel good’ hormones. These hormones can reduce anxiety and anger and help you feel great about yourself. Try to squeeze in some exercise every day. It needn’t be strenuous. A brisk walk around the park or an evening bike ride can work wonders on your mental health. Another great way to stay active is to find a physical activity you love. From low-impact exercises like swimming to team sports like football, there are many options out there for you to try.
Get High-Quality Sleep
Restful sleep can make a serious difference to your mental health. Healthy adults should aim for at least 7 hours of high-quality sleep every night. According to the BBC, around a third of people in the UK don’t get restful sleep at night. Furthermore, 30 percent don’t sleep enough. Regular low-quality sleep can affect your brainpower and immune system and contribute to bad mental health. A healthy bedtime routine can help you tackle bad sleep. You can also try avoiding caffeinated drinks after 3pm.