10 ways to improve your mental health

Posted by: alisrowe, October 10, 2019

We all have mental health, so here are 10 easy things you might like to do to improve yours:

1. Smile

The physical motion of smiling can actually make you feel good! And I also like it when people smile at me, it uplifts me immediately. You could get into the habit of smiling more.

2. Spend time in nature

Many of us spend the majority of our week indoors and at our computer. Spending some time outside and making a conscious effort to appreciate grass, flowers, animals and birds, can make you feel good. A couple of tips: don’t look at your phone when you’re out, don’t even listen to music, just revel in what actually exists in that moment!

3. Exercise

Movement can make you feel better. It can be anything from taking a brief walk, walking up the stairs, to lifting weights. Doing anything so that you stop being ‘still’ can make you feel better.

4. Healthy eating

Ensure your body gets the nutrients it needs in the right quantities and you are likely to have a more stable mood and be able to concentrate more. Drink a lot of water as well!

5. Good sleep

Sleep is absolutely critical for feeling good. Learn about sleep hygiene. Take measures to sleep better, such as turning your phone off at night and using blackout blinds.

6. Laugh

Laughing can really improve your mood! Spend time with people who make you laugh. Make other people laugh. Read or watch things that you find funny.

7. Help others

Helping someone else can make you feel good. It can be a very small gesture such as helping an elderly person cross the road, it could be offering your seat to someone on the train, it could be giving someone a little bit of money if they find they’re short at the counter in the shop. It could be something bigger such as volunteering in your community.

8. Stroke an animal

It has been proven that stroking an animal makes people feel calmer. If you don’t have a pet, consider occasionally looking after someone else’s pet. Stop on the pavement to stroke a wandering cat or ask a dog walker in the park if you can pet their dog. πŸ™‚

9. Do something JUST because “it’s fun!”

We all do things because we feel we “ought” to be doing them, or because we know they lead somewhere. I learned that, actually a lot of the time it’s best to do something just because it’s fun and for no other reason!! So long as you are sensible(!), it’s also totally fine to spend a lot of money on something just because it gives you pleasure!!

10. Invest in yourself

This is very important: learn something new, receive coaching, get professional advice on something, have therapy… these are all amazing ways to develop and/or heal as a person. I used to think it was “too expensive” to pay for advice or to delegate and outsource things. I thought I could get by without and do everything on my own. Now I know that using an expert or a team can 1) make me achieve my goals faster and 2) ensure my dreams become reality.

Points 9 and 10 were revolutionary for me. The others I had already got the hang of by the time I was a grown up. πŸ™‚

What are your favourite ways to improve mental health? Leave a comment!

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