Mental health illnesses such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder are increasingly common nowadays, especially amongst teens and young adults. Many believe factors such as social media, student loan debt, stress, lack of exercise, and decreased exposure to sunlight are attributed to this upsurge in mental health disorders.
Ways to Work on Your Mental Health
If you find yourself suffering from common symptoms such as hopelessness, lack of energy, low appetite, and insomnia, it’s time to get help. Consulting with a professional should always be your first line of defence; however, there are ways you can work on your mental health right at home. Lead a healthier, happier life with these tips to boost your wellbeing.
Find Your Inner Peace
The CDC states that 1 in 5 Americans will experience a mental health illness in any given year. From busy work schedules to financial stresses, it’s easy for us to forget what life is all about. Take a moment to breathe and enjoy the beauty around you by practicing mindfulness. Mindfulness is the act of focusing on the present while not thinking about the past or the future. You let your thoughts flow through your mind like a running train, then focus on the sensations around you.
To find your inner peace, dedicate portions of your day to complete silence. What better way to find yourself than by spending time with your mind all alone? Find a quiet space, roll out a yoga mat, and take a few deep breaths to relax your body. For further analysis, hook up an aura camera to your computer that uses sensors to show you your chakras and the energy levels you give out to the world. Practicing these tips will help reduce your stress and build gray matter in your brain, which leads to better memory, improved cognition, and improved emotions.
Exercise
Getting daily exercise will improve your mental wellbeing in numerous ways. Our bodies are meant to move; however, societal pressures such as intense work schedules and tight deadlines keep us stuck inside behind a desk all day. Regularly exercising improves neural growth in the brain, reduces inflammation, and releases endorphins, the feel-good chemical that energizes you. Sticking to your workout routine will help calm you down and relieve anxiety.
If you don’t know where to get started, we’re here to help. Join a local sports team or hiking group using meetup apps to get your daily exercise and meet new people! If you prefer to work out alone, get some motivation by downloading a personal training app that will give you workouts to perform either in your home or at the gym.
Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Chronic sleep deprivation affects your psychological state, meaning if you don’t get enough shuteye, you’re prone to mental health issues. You may not know it, but when you sleep your body actually repairs itself. When you’re in deep sleep, your body’s temperature and heart rate drops, allowing your body to repair its immune system and tackle any illness. During REM sleep, your body strengthens your memory and learning, while also boosting your emotional health
If you’re having trouble falling asleep, there are a few ways to fix this. As already mentioned, relaxing your body through yoga and meditation will help you relieve stress and get better sleep. Additionally, investing in a white noise machine can help calm you down and allow you to drift away to your dreams.
Eat Nutritious Meals
Previously, scientists and doctors did not link diet to mental health. However, nutritional psychiatry has become a new focus for treating mental illnesses. While there is no exact evidence yet, doctors and researchers do agree that nutrition plays a vital role in mental health. Eat nutritious meals packed with vegetables, fruits, and grains high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals promote brain growth and improve mood. Not only is eating well good for your body, your brain will say “thank you”, as well!
If you want to begin eating healthy, start one step at a time by making homecooked meals for lunch or dinner. As you get into the swing of things, you’ll be able to meal prep and bring hearty and healthy foods to work or school! If you have limited time (or desire), there are numerous food delivery services that will deliver easy to cook meals and recipe cards straight to your doorstep.
Wrapping Up
With so much going on in your life, you need to take a moment to think about your wellbeing and health. Implement these easy lifestyle changes into your daily routine to enjoy the life you live!
Great topic. We all need to take a moment or two for ourselves each day.
We certainly do, but don’t really do it! I am trying more lately though!
There is a lot of stress in the world today, I’m working on doing more exercise and eating healthier–trying to remove all process foods-its hard but I think it is worth it.
Yes, definitely! Good for you!
This is so helpful! Thank you for sharing. I am trying to stay on top my mental health this year as a top priority.
My pleasure! It’s so important!
As women, we always put everyone else first It’s alright to be a little selfish (me time). It’s necessary!
It certainly is!
I had never heard of an aura camera till reading your post, but now I’m really intrigued and will checking that out!
A lot goes in to caring for oneself’s mental wellbeing. I think these are great steps to make. Preventative measures are always needed.
Indeed!