12 Top Tips To Improve Mental Health

Sep 11, 2023 | Health, Lifestyle, Yoga & Vitality

Panic attack in public place. Woman having panic disorder in cit

Having first-hand experience of the impact on mental health created by day-to-day life challenges, I wanted to share some of the coping strategies I personally use and also suggest to loved ones and clients.

What Is Mental Health?
Mental health involves our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects our thoughts, feelings and actions. The heath of our mind can determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make every day decisions. It is important to nurture our mental health through every stage of life, to enable one to cultivate a positive state of mind that allows one to think clearly, feel good about oneself, and cope with the day-to-day challenges of life.

There are many factors that can affect mental health, including:

Genetics: Some people are more likely to develop mental health problems due to their genes.
Brain chemistry: Some mental health problems are caused by imbalances in brain chemicals.
Life experiences: Traumatic or stressful experiences can increase the risk of developing mental health problems and exacerbate an already underlying predisposition to mental health issues.
Environmental factors: Things like poverty, discrimination, and lack of access to healthcare can also contribute to mental health problems.

Mental health problems can range from mild to severe. Some common mental health problems can include:

Anxiety disorders: These disorders are characterised by excessive fear, worry, and anxiety.
Depression: a mood disorder that causes feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness.
Substance abuse disorders: These disorders involve the misuse of alcohol, drugs, or other substances.
Eating disorders: These disorders involve unhealthy eating habits and body image concerns.
Personality disorders: These disorders involve inflexible and maladaptive patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving.

Mental health problems can be treated and managed. There are many different types of treatment available depending on the individual’s personal experiences and symptoms, these can include:

Talk therapies
Esoteric therapies
Hypnotherapy
Holistic therapies
Natural remedies
Lifestyle changes
Dietary modifications
Medication

It can be very difficult to have the motivation to look after yourself when the mind is in a negative space. As hard as it may be, taking the first steps will make psychological improvements and encourage greater confidence towards reaching a more fulfilling life journey to contentment.

Here are 10 ways boost your mental health:

1. Get enough sleep. When you’re well-rested, you’re better able to cope with stress and make healthy decisions. Most adults need around 7-8 hours of sleep per night. Supplements can help with sleep issues, as can essential oils such as lavender.

2. Eat a healthy diet. Eating nutritious foods can help improve your mood and energy levels. Focus on eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and good protein sources. Consider taking supplements to support your diet.

3. Exercise regularly. Physical activity is a great way to reduce stress, improve your mood, and boost your self-esteem. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week. Select the type of exercise you enjoy to ensure you keep with it.

4. Adopt hobbies you enjoy. A creative hobby, cooking, writing, reading allow the mind to connect to being in the present moment, where a sense of composure, calm, and collectedness is harnessed.

5. Practice relaxation techniques. There are many different relaxation techniques that can help reduce stress and improve mental health. Some popular techniques include mindfulness, meditation, yoga, and specific breathing exercises.

6. Try a holistic treatment such as relaxing massage, acupuncture, homeopathy, crystal healing, reiki healing, shiatsu therapy to name but a few.

7. Connect with others. Social connection is important for mental health. Spend time with loved ones, join a club or group, or volunteer in your community. Helping others is invaluable to the selected community, plus the added benefit of preoccupying the mind with a sense of feeling good. Rewarding to everyone all round.

8. Spend time in nature. Being in nature has been shown to have a number of benefits for mental health, including reducing stress and anxiety. Take some time each day to go for a walk in the park, sit in your backyard, or simply nurture an indoor plant on your window box to connect to some greenery.

9. Set realistic goals and expectations for yourself. Don’t overload yourself with too much to do. Break down your goals into smaller, more manageable steps.

10. Learn to say no to things that you don’t have time for or that will add to your stress. It’s okay to say no to requests, even if it’s hard.

11. Be patient with yourself. It takes time and effort to improve your mental health. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results immediately. Just keep practicing the healthy habits listed here and you’ll steadily start to feel brighter day-by-day.

12. Do not hesitate to seek professional help. There are many resources available to you, including therapists, doctors, and support groups. A therapist can teach you coping skills and help you develop a treatment plan.

These are just a few of the many things you can do to boost your mental health. By making these healthy choices, you can improve your overall well-being and live life with a happier, more positive outlook and lifestyle.

If you are looking to investigate a therapist’s approach please do not hesitate to reach out to experts with, if necessary, my assistance.