6 Tips To Self Care For Better Mental Health

Originally published here

Be more self-aware, Be less self-involved

A person’s mental health is as essential as physical health and should be treated with the same care. Mental illness can seriously impact the quality of life for those who suffer from it, but mental health can also affect those around them. The mental well-being of everyone in society affects the mental well-being of each individual. Many things may be done in order to maintain mental well-being, including exercising regularly and engaging in activities they enjoy. It’s important to remember that even though you may feel like your mental health is not at its best right now, there are always ways to improve it.

Considering the challenges we faced this year, it is more important than ever to look after our mental health. Here are six tips on how to maintain psychological well-being.

1. Change your perspective

It is easy to get overwhelmed by the events happening in our lives, predominantly when negative. However, it is worth noting that not everything is as terrible as it appears. By changing your perspective, you can view the situation in a more positive light, which will help you feel better. What may seem like a big problem to you may not be as bad to someone else. For example, one person might see losing their job as something very negative, but another person may view it as an opportunity to do something different.

2. Take care of yourself

We’re talking about mental health, but we can’t forget that our physical health directly influences our mental well-being. Therefore, maintaining your physical health is an essential component of preserving mental wellness. This includes eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep and exercise, and reducing stress levels. Of course, this is easier said than done, but if you do it right, you will appreciate the significant benefit. Not sure where to start? If you don’t have time to do everything at once, start with one healthy habit and work your way up. For example, cutting down on processed foods and eating more fruits and vegetables, or going for a 30-minute walk every day. What I started was getting a new cooking book was a start.

3. Seek out help from others

It is important to have support from others in order to maintain mental well-being. Getting help from your friends and family is the simplest way to do this. Not only are they there when you need them, but talking about your feelings can make you feel better too. If you don’t have someone available to speak to, mental health professionals are always available.

Several years ago, a good friend told me that it was getting more challenging to hang out with me; it was a real wake-up moment for me. I made an appointment with a therapist and started to work through some of my issues. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, and it helped me understand myself and my relationships with others better.

4. Find an activity that you like and do it regularly, especially when you’re feeling down.

Whether you were working from home all year and/or stuck at home during the lockdown, it’s really easy to burn out from a lack of social interaction and a variety of stimulation. Our mental health requires a combination of positive experiences and challenges to grow and thrive. Let’s face it, most of us haven’t traveled in a very long time. So when it is finally time to travel, we may not be prepared for how hard it will hit us. That mental and emotional burnout can last a long time. I thought that after the lockdown ended, my mental health would improve, but if anything, my mental health has gotten worse.

I knew I needed to do something. I needed variety in my life. We must find a hobby or activity that we enjoy and do often, especially when we’re feeling down. This may be as easy as reading a book, painting, going for a stroll, or preparing supper. The first and most essential step is discovering something that makes you happy and persevering. I decided to start experimenting with Sous Vide cooking a few months ago. I tried various recipes while encouraging my children to try new foods.

5. Make a list of all you have to be grateful for and examine it regularly.

Positivity breeds positivity. When we focus on the good things in our lives, it helps us feel happier and more content. This is why it is good to create a list of things to be grateful for and review them frequently. Not only does this help you to appreciate the good things in your life, but it can also shift your perspective. You can be grateful for the roof over your head, a good cup of coffee in the morning, and much more.

6. Practice self-compassion by recognizing the good in yourself and the bad — we all have both qualities inside us!

Thinking inwardly and critically about ourselves can be harmful to our mental health. This is where self-compassion comes in. Recognizing the good in yourself and the bad — we all have both qualities inside us! — can help to ease these negative thoughts. It also allows us to be more understanding and accepting of ourselves, leading to a more positive mental state overall.

People living for happiness can often possess more rewarding attributes as they grow and become empowering than ones lacking happiness. Researchers have demonstrated through motivation methods that the positive mood affects attention and cognitive processes. Positive feelings help improve one’s performance and personality, if one is positive to others, they also have more compassionate relationships and have more respect for other people. People in low moods are better at describing details about a problem.

It’s time to take a step back and look after your mental health if you’re feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or down. Looking after mental health can be done by following the six tips above for maintaining psychological well-being in the New Year. We all have had our own challenges that we faced this year, but I encourage you not to let them get out of hand. Let me know what some of your other tips are below so that together with friends, family members, and colleagues, we can help each other achieve success!