With all of the stressors that come with modern day life, it is easy to often feel mentally overwhelmed. However, many people end up ignoring this feeling, which only leads to serious problems in the long term, making it important to understand exactly how to keep yourself mentally healthy.
Taking a Mental Health Day
Taking a mental health day off from work is a great way to recuperate if you have really been feeling down, but you need to really think about whether or not this will work for you. If you have been feeling anxious and depressed, and just want to hide away from the world, taking a day off to do this may actually end up worsening your issues rather than helping them. However, if you are dealing with a traumatic crisis, then taking a mental health day may be exactly what you need to gain back some control over life.
Regular Exercise
While many people equate regular exercise with physical health, it can actually do so much for your mental health too. Studies have shown that regular exercise is able to significantly lower anxiety while improving overall mood, and doing this just two to three times a week can have a huge impact. Whether you spend half an hour every evening taking a vigorous walk around your neighbourhood, or sign up to a couple of weekly dance classes, you will soon notice that you feel so much more uplifted thanks to this regular exercise.
Mindful Meditation
Mindful meditation is so effective when it comes to treating issues such as anxiety, depression and PTSD, to the extent that many doctors are now prescribing meditation before resorting to medication. Research on the topic is still ongoing, but spending a short amount of time, even just five minutes, meditating each day has been shown to be extremely beneficial. For the very best results, try meditating first thing in the morning, as this will help you to start your day with a relaxed and peaceful mindset.
Nutrition
Your brain needs specific nutrients in order to thrive, and, if it is not acquiring these, then it is likely to begin to falter. A healthy, balanced diet is essential for positive mental health, along with plenty of water. You should also try to cut out sugar, alcohol and caffeine as much as possible, as all of these have been proven to be quite detrimental to mental health.
Seeing a Therapist
There are many ways in which you can work to stay mentally healthy on your own, but, if you find that you have been really struggling with this, it may be time to see a therapist. A professional will be able to provide one-on-one guidance based on your specific issues, and will also help you to develop go-to coping skills for whenever you start to feel too overwhelmed.
Staying mentally healthy is so important, especially because many people do not realize how much their mental health is suffering until it is too late. From regular exercise to meditation, making your mental health a priority will definitely be rewarding in the long run.
