Good mental health is central to our wellbeing, and yet it’s something that many people find all too easy to neglect. Much like physical health and fitness, it takes time and dedication to ensure you’re always on your best possible form – and a little extra kindness, too. If you feel that you could probably be doing more to look after your mental health, you are certainly not alone. As the stigma surrounding the subject slowly begins to diminish, more and more people are beginning to sit up, take notice, and understand the importance of doing so. As the saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty cup, and so it’s vital that you look after yourself if you’re to have any hope of doing the same for others.
Unsure what you can do to look after your mental health that little better? Here are some good places to start.
Understand your mind
If you really want to master your own mental health, you need to do whatever you can to try and understand the mind. Most people don’t dedicate enough time to getting to know themselves a little better, and this is often to their detriment, as doing so is truly the key to improved mental wellbeing. It may sound like a daunting task, but it’s easier to get started than you might think. There are plenty of great books on the subject, and ‘The Chimp Paradox’ by Steve Peters is a revealing read to get going with. If you’re interested in really delving into the depths of your own mind, however, then you could look into studying for an online masters in clinical mental health counselling, which would give you a pretty complete understanding that you can use to your own advantage. Either way, spending just an hour or two a week on getting to know more about how your mind works will be a revealing exercise, and will make a huge difference to how you approach your own mental health.
Look after your body
Believe it or not, good physical health has a strong correlation with improving your mental wellbeing, and exercise is known to be one of the best natural ways to give your mood a boost. Regular fitness classes or a daily run will keep you feeling your best, and a balanced diet can make the world of difference, too. The more that you look after your body, the better you are looking after your mind. The two are really best thought of as being one and the same, as without nourishing one, you can’t expect the other to be at its best. Sleeping is also incredibly important when it comes to both mental and physical health, so ensuring you get a good eight hours or more of shut-eye each night will be an integral part of achieving all-round optimum health.
Be kind to others
Studies have shown time and again that one of the most important factors in ensuring your own happiness is trying to improve the happiness of others. There is actual scientific evidence that being kind to others is a more effective means of making yourself happy than doing things for yourself. With this in mind, try to incorporate an act of kindness or two into your day and see how it makes you feel – often, seeing another person smile because of something you have done for them can be a powerful tonic for improving your own wellbeing. If you have the time, why not spend one day a week volunteering at your local homeless shelter? It can be easy to take the luxurious lifestyle many of us lead for granted, but it pays to remember that others are not always as fortunate, and giving something back can make a huge difference to how you feel about yourself.
Spend a little time each day doing something to nourish your mental health, and you’ll soon notice a difference in how you feel. It may seem daunting, but making a few simple changes can make a big and positive impact.
