Mental health and wellbeing tend to be two subjects that the majority of us weren’t too open about in the past. A while ago, there was a stigma attached to them and people were reluctant to share or acknowledge them. But thankfully, as science has progressed and people are sharing their experiences more, we’re growing more aware of the importance of mental and emotional wellbeing, as well as knowing what to do when we experience issues or troubles in this area of our lives. It really is important that you take steps to support and care for yourself throughout periods of poor mental health, no matter how full or hectic your schedule may be. Here are some suggestions that can help you to manage your mental health as best possible on an ongoing basis.
Know There Is Help Out There
First and foremost, it’s important to say that if you are struggling with your mental or emotional health, there is help out there for you. You should seek support, as you’re not in this alone. A good place to start is visiting your doctor or another healthcare professional, who can diagnose any underlying issues and refer you on for relevant treatment. There are also mental health charities, helplines, support groups and others ready to help too. Remember that you are never alone when it comes to managing your mental health and that there are countless people out there who you can reach out to for support during any trying time, or even during periods where you’re feeling okay.
Relax
It’s important that you take time to relax. All too many of us pack our schedules to the brim and find ourselves running from one responsibility or commitment to another. Work, parental responsibilities, social commitments, the list goes on. This can easily lead to burnout, which isn’t good for anyone and can only serve the exacerbate the symptoms of multiple mental health conditions. It’s really important that you do just take some time to yourself to kick back and relax. Spend this time doing whatever you want. You might want to sit back in a bath. You might want to catch up on a favourite TV show or watch a film. You might want to take a nap. You could take a walk in nature. You could pick up a craft, knitting materials or embroidery guides. Whatever you decide to do, make sure to schedule time for it and stick to it.
Connect With Others
It’s important to make time for your friends or extended family too. Sure, you don’t want to overload yourself with social commitments. But just checking in with the people you care about can really make all the difference to your feelings of wellbeing. This could be arranging a coffee once a month, simply giving a friend or family member a call, having a video call or anything else. Taking time to connect with others can significantly improve your happiness and day to day feelings of positivity. So, go through your calendar, consider who you want to spend time with and give them a call or message to arrange a meet up.
Get Organised
Organisation is so important for anyone, but it can be particularly important for those who are experiencing mental health conditions. Disorganisation can result in feelings of being overwhelmed, stressed, panicked and more. Instead, organisation can help to guide your days in a direction that is controlled and manageable. Make sure that you have everything you need to attend stored in your calendar with accurate times and locatins. Have a to do list of all the things you need to do, whether that’s grocery shopping, checking your chrome memory usage, picking up items for the house, tasks you need to complete for work, cleaning, meal prepping or anything else. You’ll find that this small lifestyle change can really make all the difference.
Adopt Healthy Lifestyle Habits
Leading a healthy lifestyle won’t necessarily resolve any mental health conditions or issues, but it can give you a sense of happiness, releasing endorphins and helping you to feel better on a day to day basis. Try to eat healthily. This starts with eating a healthy and balanced diet that falls within your recommended daily calorie intake. You should ensure that each meal is balanced, with all of the food groups you need and plenty of fruit and veg. You may even want to try out some superfoods, which are foods that are particularly nutritionally dense. On top of a healthy diet, you need to get your recommended weekly exercise into your schedule somehow. It’s recommended that the average adult gets one hundred and fifty minutes of moderate aerobic exercise a week, or seventy five minutes of vigorous aerboc exercise a week. Choose a form you enjoy, or hire a personal trainer, as this will help to keep you committed and dedicated to the cause.
Get Enough Sleep
Getting enough sleep really is important for your mental health. Insufficient sleep can cause tiredness, irritability, distraction and more. Instead, when you are well rested, you’re much more able to make informed decisions and regulate your emotions and reactions more easily. Of course, we are all well aware that the average adult should get eight hours of sleep a night. But make sure to actually implement this. Set yourself a routine bed time. Make sure that you get into bed in advance of this. Put devices away before bed, as blue light can impact your sleep cycles. Use sleep aids that suit your needs, such as masks, ear plugs, calming music, sleep apps and anything else that might help you to drift off.
As you can see, there are a fair few things you can do to help yourself manage your mental health in a sensible and productive way. Of course, there may be hard times, but during these, it’s important to remember that there is so much help and a host of people out there to support you.
Photo by Riccardo: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-sitting-on-gray-rock-near-body-of-water-185801/
Author: Mandy Kloppers
Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.
