Habits That Boost Mental Health and How to Get Help

12/21/2023

How to improve mental health? 

If you are someone looking for mental health tips, you have come to the right place. Let’s check out these mental health tips: 

Sleep is non-negotiable.

Sleep is a very important aspect of a human’s life. Getting 8 hours of sleep is not just excellent for physical health but also mental health. You tend to feel several unwanted symptoms the next day when you are short on sleep. The symptoms may consist of daytime sleepiness, lack of focus, headache, sluggishness, irritability, low energy, etc. Therefore, recharging your mental and physical health through sleep daily is essential. When you are on adequate sleep, you will actively get through the next day with so much energy. Sleep is something that should not be compromised ever. 

If you are unable to get your sleep due to reasons such as insomnia or any other condition, seek help from a medical professional. A medical professional will assist you in tackling the situation so that you can get 7 to 8 hours of peaceful sleep. And to improve your sleeping pattern, try to incorporate new habits, such as: 

• Make your room statuary for your sleep by making it quiet, dark, and relaxing.

• Adjust your room temperature as per your needs.

• Dodge taking big meals and caffeine near your bedtime.

• Try to wake up and sleep at the same time each day.

Social media is ruling over your mind. 

From running a business to flexing your “outfit of the day,” it all happens on social media. No doubt, social media has eased our lives in multiple ways, from finding your targeted audience for the business to staying connected with your school friends. However, social media directly or indirectly affects our mental health, too. You must be thinking, how? Do you remember your friend secured the first position in the quiz competition wherein you got out in the first round only? When you saw your friend boasting about their accomplishment, you started doubting your worth, confidence, and abilities. As a result, you felt anxious, low, and depressed.

Don’t let social media rule over your mind. You have got more than that. When you start consuming too much content through social media, you start comparing yourself. Therefore, you need to cut down on social media and take it into practice when needed. Whenever you are on your phone, you waste hours scrolling. Therefore, try to devote that time to doing something productive. If you are unable to control your screen time, try to follow these tips:

• Put a daily limit on social media apps to manage your time

• Turn off notifications of the apps that grab your attention

• Build a new habit, such as running, yoga, or gym

The best ways to avoid comparing yourself with people you see on social media:

• They never started their journey with you.

• You have a different story to chase your dream.

• Things are different at both ends.

Build strong connections with people you love. 

In the era where seeing each other once in a blue moon is a trend, try to break this by encouraging your connection with your loved ones. We also know we are pressed under hectic schedules all day, but meeting your friends and other close relationships biweekly or once a month is possible. You can share and hear feelings by catching up with them over a coffee or at your favorite café in the town, which will ease your mental burden. Having another opinion or perspective helps you find a lot. 

A good and meaningful connection can help you in many different ways, such as:

• Providing emotional support

• Easing the feeling of loneliness

• Helping you get through the difficult times

If your friend or family is in a different city or a country, you can still nurture your connection with them through ways like:

• Give them a short call and summarize your recent life.

• Try to stay in touch by sending memes and meaningful reels.

• Inviting or visiting them for dinner.

Spend a day in a way you like. 

We are so busy catching the pace of life that we even forget that we need to take care of our health. Just to meet deadlines and monthly reports, we are compromising our sleep and fuelling ourselves with caffeine to accomplish the tasks. However, sometimes, all you need to do is spend a day in a way that gives you comfort and joy. Whenever you are burned out, take a day off and spend the day your way. If you like sleeping and watching Netflix, do that. If you like visiting coffee shops, go for that.

If you keep compromising your health, you will start developing serious health conditions. Don’t forget to rest and get a diet rich in nutrients. When you give your body the fuel it needs, you can drive it anywhere in any way.

Munch on the nutrient diet. 

What you eat plays a significant role in your mental health. Munching on junk food and unhealthy snacks once in a while is fine. However, when you start munching on these daily, your body starts having a deficiency of important nutrients. Therefore, you should include the food items that have mood-boosting properties, such as:

• Bananas

• Beans

• Berries

• Salmon

• Whole grain

In addition to this, you should also increase your water intake. When you are dehydrated, your body and brain don’t get the important nutrients needed to function optimally.

To keep your mental health stable, you should avoid taking certain items such as alcohol, added sugar, caffeine, refined carbs, etc. If you are taking these food items in the limit, that’s okay. If it is in large quantity, you may notice adverse effects.

Summing up: 

How you treat your mental health matters a lot in your life. Therefore, you need to make sure you give it what it needs to flourish smoothly. You can ensure its care by giving It what it deserves, such as getting adequate sleep, cutting off social media, eating a nutritious diet, taking rest, spending time with your loved ones, etc. On the other hand, if you have any mental health disorder (anxiety or depression), you should seek medical assistance. A medical professional will assist you to get through the situation easily. And if there is something that is disturbing your mental stability, speak it out with either your friend or any family member.

FAQs: 

1. Can social connections impact mental well-being?

We all have days when life doesn’t go the way we expect. As a result, we feel overwhelmed, lonely, low, and anxious; however, if you have social connections, you can reach out to them to share how you feel about something. Sharing feelings always helps you to ease your burden. Therefore, when life hits you, have time to hear and share feelings with your social connections. 

2. What role does a balanced diet play in mental health? 

Your diet has a significant role in keeping you mentally and physically active. Whatever you eat reflects on your health. If you take the essential nutrients through your diet, your entire body will work flawlessly. On the other hand, if your diet is lacking essential minerals and vitamins, you will encounter so many mental and physical problems. Therefore, you should aim to eat a diet rich in whole and unprocessed foods. There are certain food items that are believed to improve your mental health, such as beans, legumes, fatty fish, nuts, dark leafy veggies, avocados, etc. 

3. How does exercise contribute to mental well-being? 

Incorporating physical activity into your daily routine is not only fruitful for your physical health but also for your mental health. Exercise assists the brain in releasing “feel good” chemicals such as serotonin and endorphin. These chemicals reduce the frequency of mood swings and uplift your mood. In addition to this, it keeps you focused on your goals by vanishing negative thoughts. People who exercise are less prone to mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. 

4. What are the key habits that can boost mental health?

In this era, mental health problems are more common than ever, irrespective of age and gender. Depression, anxiety, ADHD, and bipolar disorder are increasing on a large scale around the world. Therefore, it is your duty to keep your mental health protected. By adding some new habits to your daily routine, you can boost your mental health: 

• Start getting moving 

• Eat a balanced diet 

• Cut down on social media time 

• Taking 8 hours of sleep daily