Our mental health needs looking after, just like our physical health and emotional health, and just as easily we can fall back into old habits. Habits that affect our body in a harmful way, we can just as easily neglect our mental health as we pick up bad habits.
Everyone has mental health, whether it’s good mental health or bad, or somewhere in the middle.
Changes to your everyday life may help give you a positive mindset in those times of need. You don’t have to make big changes, slightly adapting will hopefully improve your mental health.
- sleep =
I understand during lockdown most people are sleeping at the most random times, from 3am to 11pm or from 1pm to 10pm. Everyone’s day schedules have been muddled up since the start of quarantine, but I assure you, getting a good night’s sleep is a huge factor in having good mental health.
If you find it hard to get to sleep it may be easier to trick your brain by telling yourself to stay awake (do you ever find it harder to stay awake when you’re watching a movie late at night or texting someone in the dark?).
You may find it easier to simply think about what you were grateful for that day or what you want to accomplish the next.
- laugh =
Laughing surprisingly burns a lot of calories and is a god way to reduce stress levels. Make sure you factor in having fun at least once a day, no matter what it is; watching funny videos of YouTube or just seeing a friend that makes you laugh (from a distance of course).
- exercise & diet =
Both physical and mental health are both equally important, you shouldn’t help one without the other. I personally am a fitness freak, always working out and going for runs. But I wasn’t always, up until last year I didn’t do anything, I stopped attending school clubs, stopped joining my sister in the gym, the only walks I went on was to school and back. This is not a way to help your physical health.
You don’t have to go extreme and start training for a marathon or a 550km bike ride or anything that’s too much but going for a nice walk for at least 30 minutes every day will certainly help. However, I know this can be challenging for some. Maybe try some swimming or some yoga at home, where you can go at your own pace.
As for diet, it’s definitely worth looking into and finding a healthy balanced diet that you enjoy and doesn’t feel like a chore.
- focus on positivity =
Practice gratitude = when things aren’t going well externally, focusing on what you’re grateful for can help your mental state, to an extent.
Let go of toxicity = I’m sure many of us have had some toxicity on our life previously and maybe are still there. If you have someone that doesn’t bring any positivity into your life, then it’s perfectly okay to cut ties. Letting go of toxic, controlling and negative relationships allows us to take control of our lives and limit the amount of danger they can do to our mental health.
- talking =
Get your feelings out. It will take a weight off your shoulders, speak to someone you can trust and feel safe around, don’t stay isolated. If you’re not comfortable doing that then my messages are always open.
Create an account and send a message, everything is anonymous, you will not be judged, you’ll just have someone to talk to and who can relate and hopefully help.
- acts of kindness =
I enjoy making other people happy. Even simply smiling at others as you walk past can bring yourself happiness. Although it’s important to remember to focus on yourself at time. You don’t need to make everyone around you happy, be kind to yourself and make yourself happy.
- get some fresh air =
Vitamin D from the sun helps boost your mood and release chemicals such as Serotonin. The temperature where I am currently is in the mid 20s, which is gorgeous for sitting outside most the day and just enjoying nature. You could even incorporate some different mental health exercises in one, as in doing your daily exercise outside.
- look out =
These simple guides may not help you, different things work for different people. Just because they don’t work for you doesn’t mean nothing will. Stay strong and remember your worth. And if you are struggling or know someone that is silently, try to look out for the signs. It’s best to get ahead of the problem and notice it before times get worse.
You can try this test from the NHS campaign "Every Mind Matters"
– not something to completely rely on but a starting point.
Be sure to message someone and stay safe x
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