Caring for your mental health is a huge part of your overall well being. It impacts not only how you feel, but it can also contribute to your thoughts and actions. How you deal with stress and social situations are directly affected by your mental health too. Dealing with mental health on a social, emotional, and psychological level isn’t a one and done fix either. It’s something you work through at every stage of life.
Working toward holistic wellness is something you can tend to. In some cases, you might need a larger intervention for dealing with your mental health. Other times, small daily practices can make you feel better. You might also need a combination of both at different times in life. Focusing on your mental well being is as important as your physical. Keep reading for some simple tips for improving your mental health.
1. Ask for Help
If you’re struggling, you don’t have to continue feeling alone or overwhelmed. There are many resources available to ease your burden and support you through difficult times. Depending on where you are in your journey, it might be a good idea to start with counseling. Reaching out to a licensed counselor for talk therapy can start you on the path to healing and finding answers. Your counselor can also help you decide if referral to a psychiatrist for medication might be helpful.
If you’re still struggling with severe mood disorders, you can also look into a mental health rehab organization. These groups can be helpful if coping and getting through daily life is a challenge. If your work and relationships are seeing a negative impact, this could be a good option. There are clinics that offer outpatient rehab services as well as inpatient.
2. Spend Time With Others
It can be tempting to isolate yourself and avoid others when you’re feeling down. You might not want others to be negatively impacted by your bad mood. Or the thought of socializing might feel overwhelming. However, when you’re having a hard time with depression, isolating can actually make you feel more alone. If your anxiety is spinning up, you might also feel more anxious in your withdrawal.
Why is that? It’s easy to believe your own negative self-talk and feelings of inadequacy when you’re alone. There’s no one around to convince you you’re wrong. If the story you tell yourself is that no one likes you and you choose to be alone, then your negative self-talk is a self-fulling prophecy. Humans are meant to have community and be social. Try to focus on building friendships and spending time with others.
3. Get Outside
Connecting with nature and getting outside can bring a big boost to your mental health. Feeling the sun on your face and breeze in your hair can ground you to something bigger than yourself. Not only does going outside help with mental health, but it has physiological benefits too. It can cause your blood pressure to lower, boost focus, and increase your vitamin D levels.
There’s something to be said as well about a change in environment. With anxiety and depression, staying in and isolating yourself at home can actually make you feel worse. It can cause you to fixate on the same thoughts and feel overwhelmed and stuck. Getting outside and moving can help change that self talk and help you focus on other things. Fresh air and a walk can really boost your outlook on life.
4. Get Hands On
Finding ways to get creative and physically touch things in your world can help center you. This could apply to building something or refinishing furniture. Painting or playing with clay are other options as is building model kits or Legos. These activities can give you a sense of happiness and feeling at ease. That can be a good way to ease your feelings of anxiety and depression.
It grounds you in a similar way as being in nature can. Looking for creative outlets and crafting can open your mind and help you concentrate on things outside of your mental health struggles. It can also show you that you can make things. The finished product doesn’t have to be perfect or even finished either. You make the rules. Just expressing yourself should be the main goal.
5. Celebrate Small Wins
When things are dark inside, it can be easy to focus on all the negatives and where you fall short. Instead of looking at what you’re not doing, or a looming big task, start small. Check off a list as you go to celebrate what you have done. Did you get out of bed today? Check! Was showering too hard so you brushed your teeth instead? Check!
Everything you do to help your mind, body, and soul is a win! If doing the dishes by hand is too hard, load the dishwasher. Run it twice if you have too. If that’s too much, wash one cup. Even eating an apple or drinking a glass of water can be considered a win. It means you’re prioritizing putting healthy things into your body.
You’re worth being well. And you’re worth living a life that has happiness and doesn’t feel like a constant struggle. Try a few of the small tips to help improve your mental health. Establishing habits can help you maintain that healthy level as well. When you’re feeling stressed at work or life, take a step back and prioritize a walk in the park.
If the small frustrations start to feel unmanageable, ask for help. Talking to friends and family and letting them know life is hard right now is important. If it’s too much, ask for professional help. The world is a better place because you’re in it. Never be too scared to reach out.
