The key thing to know about mental health is that it can affect the health of everything else in your body.
Did you know that anxiety and depression can cause physical health problems? Some mental health conditions can cause stomach problems, headaches, muscle tension and soreness, fatigue, chest pain, fast heart beats, and more. So it is safe to say that your mental health can be very important to your physical health as well.
This article will include 5 handy tips for how to improve and maintain your mental health. In addition to these tips, see your primary healthcare doctor and discuss your mental health with them. Your doctor should be able to help you out more than this article will.
These tips will help you recognize and work on the things in your life that are perhaps contributing to your mental health struggles.
5 Tips for Mental Healthcare:
1. Sleep – Are you getting 7-9 hours of sleep most nights? It can help to set a timer on your phone to remind you to turn off all electronics an hour before you go to sleep. Instead of using devices, try other things such as drawing, coloring, reading a book, or listening to a meditation podcast. Make sure to set aside enough time every night for sleep.
2. Eating – What are you eating regularly? Are you filling up on sugar sodas, processed foods, and greasy foods? Try starting with one healthy meal per day and work your way up. Any improvement in your diet is a good start. Also, try eating without electronic devices. Try to stay relaxed during meals.
3. Physical activity – How much exercise are you getting? Try choosing exercise options that are enjoyable for you so that you stay interested. Not all exercises have to make your heart race and body sweat like crazy. Try walking, swimming, yoga, or other options.
4. Breaks from social media – Try making plans to meet up with friends in real life. Limit how much time you spend on social media. Use your phone’s screen time feature to find out how many hours per day you are spending on your phone. You may free up a lot of time to do something you enjoy, such as painting or practicing dancing! Even if your social media experience is often enjoyable, it is good for everyone to take breaks.
5. Talk to someone – If things are getting bad and you feel you can’t do this on your own it may be time to talk to a therapist. Use google to find local therapists or psychiatrists near you. If you can’t make it in person, look into the online therapy options available to you. You deserve an unbiased and professional helper to get through the harder mental health issues that may happen.
With all the above tips in mind it is important to stay mindful and practice. Not everyone can take complete control of their habits and it helps to try one step at a time. Try one of these tips each day and then try to do two or more after a while. Hang in there, it will get better!