15 Ways to Take Care of Your Mental Health
When people think about making healthy changes, most think about making changes to their physical well-being, like losing weight or exercising more. What about taking steps to improve your mental well-being?
Mental health includes emotional, psychological and social well-being and affects many aspects of your overall health. Below are 15 practical ways to care for your mental health. Pick at least three and give them a try! Try to make them a habit and add more as time continues.
- Practice gratitude. Acknowledge the bright side by keeping a journal where you can write down five things you’re grateful for every day.
- Connect with friends and family. Good relationships are important to your mental health. Make time to text, call, or video chat with the people you care about. If you can visit, even better.
- Go outside. Try to get at least 30 minutes of sunlight (Vitamin D) each day to improve your mood and increase energy. Sunlight not only improves physical wellness, but mental well-being as well.
- Meditate. Set aside a few minutes each day to center yourself, focus on your breathing and relax. Look for an app or online tutorial that offers guidance if you’d like some additional guidance. There are even apps available with calming music or talking that can assist with this.
- Get a good night’s sleep. Try going to bed earlier and setting a consistent sleep schedule. Adequate sleep can help alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression.
- Improve your physical wellness. Focus on your nutrition, and try to exercise at least a few times per week. When your body feels good, it can really boost your mood.
- Try out different ways of coping with stress. Find something that works for you, such as going for a walk, yoga, journaling, deep breathing, listening to music, etc.
- Do something kind. Making someone else happy will make you feel happy, too. Send an encouraging text, mail a note or smile at a passing neighbor. Or, pay it forward by paying for the coffeee for the car behind yours in line.
- Make time for yourself. Set aside time each day to be alone and reset. This could be as simple as setting 30 minutes aside for a bath or reading.
- Do something you enjoy. Practice a hobby, go for a hike, watch a TV show you like, read a book, etc. Prioritizing things you enjoy will make you happier.
- Do a digital detox. Dedicate some time to be screen-free. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed after being on social media, consider testing a period of time where you avoid it. We know there are times, especially if you work on social media, that you can’t get away. But, try to escape for at least an hour each day.
- Take time to laugh. Connect with someone who has a good sense of humor, or watch funny videos online. Laughter can take your mind off the things weighing you down.
- Set a routine. Sticking to a set schedule when it comes to resting, self-care, work, caring for others, etc. will maximize efficiency and increase feelings of stability and security.
- Avoid alcohol and other drugs. Don’t rely on these substances to help you cope. Alcohol and drugs actually increase stress and make it harder to concentrate and control your emotions.
- Get help when you need it. Reach out to your doctor or therapist when you need support. Having a trained professional to talk to can help you manage symptoms, re-frame negative thoughts and determine appropriate coping strategies.
AmberLDrake
Walt Disney once said, “We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”. To be successful is to have no limitations, it is to work through all obstacles, to have extreme passion for life, and love for others, and this seems to be the underlying motto of Amber Drake’s life. Drake is a highly accomplished, world-renowned, and published book author, freelance writer and editor, inspirational speaker, an inspiring teacher, a well-reputed canine behaviourist, a canine cancer researcher, and the CEO of Canine Companions. As a child, she was keenly interested in the veterinary field and this interest paved way for her to be the successful businesswoman she is today. Starting with an Associate of Science degree in Biology in 2007 from Jamestown Community College, she has since expanded her knowledge horizon by acquiring a Bachelor of Science in Biology degree with courses from both SUNY Fredonia and Cornell University, followed by a Master of Arts Degree in Education (2011) from Ashford University, a Post-Master’s Educational Certification, and a Doctorate in ABD from the North Central University, Prescott Valley Arizona. Driven by her love for dogs, she regards her company, Canine Companions, as her greatest work-related accomplishment. She wrote the book, ‘Dog Talk: What Your Dog Wants You To Know’ as a comprehensive guide to understanding the behavior of dogs. She has since been involved in numerous writing jobs in the field, varying from writing about veterinary medicine for pet insurance companies to serving as the Co-founder and Vice President at Preferable Pups. She actively engages in content management, copywriting and research work, ghost-writing, and content marketing for organizations around the world. In addition to being an incredibly successful writer, canine behaviorist, and a CEO, she is an educator as well as an experienced curriculum developer. She is a Professor of Veterinary Medicine at Mentoray, where she teaches and develops curriculum. She is also an Adjunct Professor of Professional Sciences at Kaplan University and an Adjunct Instructor of Biology at Jamestown Community College (10+ years). Drake is a woman of many skills. She has been in the freelance content writing field for almost 7 years now with a vast amount of writing experience throughout the past ten years. She is a proficient copywriter, blogger, and has years of experience in content management and development, content creation proofreading, written communication, and correspondence. She has a number of certifications including, but not limited to, Canine Psychology, SEO, Content Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Snapchat Marketing, and Google AdWords. Drake is a woman of extreme passion with great love for her work as a canine behaviourist, writer, and college professor. You can read more about her on her website http:/www.AmberLDrake.org or connect with her on her Facebook page, www.facebook.com/specialistamberdrake.
You May Also Like
How Organizing Your Life Can Improve Your Happiness
9 Ways Short Stories Can Earn You Money
