How would you define mental health? Is it something that you can control or is it something that you cannot control?
If you believe that you can control your mental health, then you should start taking care of your mind. There are several ways through which you can improve your mental health.
Mental health refers to the state of well-being of someone’s emotional, psychological, and social functioning.
Mental health problems include depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, substance abuse, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and other psychiatric conditions.
There is no single definition of mental health. The World Health Organization defines mental health as a state of wellbeing in which every individual realizes his/her own potential, can cope with normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her/his community.
With this post, we want to give you some tips on how you can improve your mental health.
We know it isn’t easy, but we promise that with these tips, you will be on your way to a better mental state and a better life.
Here are 6 tips to improve your mental health
Tip #1 – Find your happiness outside of Social Media
Your life is not all on the small screen, but in reality. Give up social media for a few minutes of your day to rest your mind. Don’t spend hours on the wonderful Instagram of that person you believe is very happy. Try to find your happiness too.
Set aside a time in your weekly schedule to disconnect from social media. Leave your cell phone away in another room and focus on things that really matter to you.
Tip #2 – Maintain good relationships with those around you
Be surrounded by people who are good for you. Social interaction is a protective factor against mental health problems – especially direct, face-to-face contact. Try to be around positive, trusting, and supportive people.
Tip #3 – Seek help
When your mental health is not the way you would like it to be, it may be time to seek medical help. Go to a professional you trust and ask for help. Mental disorders are illnesses that deserve to be investigated and treated properly!
Tip #4 – Try physical exercise
Exercise is great for strengthening the body and also the mind. Studies prove that even simple activities, such as a 30-minute walk every day, help produce serotonin, strengthen immunity, and improve overall health.
Tip #5 – Be present
Don’t feed or let yourself be consumed by catastrophic assumptions. Focus on the present and on what can actually be done to prevent the worst-case scenario and mitigate the challenges that already exist. If we ‘pre-occupy’ ourselves with disastrous situations that we don’t even know will happen, we will cause energy and mental wear and forget what really needs to be done.
Tip #6 – Maintain a good diet
Eating well is not just important for the body and mind. Certain mineral deficiencies, such as iron and vitamin B12, for example, can put us in a bad mood.
So try to eat properly, giving preference to nutritious foods like vegetables, greens, fruits, lean sources of protein, and avoid fried foods, fast foods, etc.
It is also important to stay hydrated, drinking plenty of liquids, especially water and natural juices with no added sugar.
Also, if you are a particularly stressed or anxious person, try to limit or eliminate caffeine, as it can make you feel nervous.