Your mental health affects everything else in your life. It can impact your productivity, your ability to interact with others and even how well you sleep.
There are many things you can do to maintain good mental health. Some of the most important tips include: Exercise, getting enough sleep and taking a break.
Exercise
It’s no secret that exercise is good for your body, but it’s also great for your mental health. Research shows that exercise helps improve your mood and boosts self-esteem. It can also help ease anxiety and depression.
Exercise can also improve sleep patterns. However, avoid strenuous exercise late in the day or before bed, as this can leave you feeling too energised and make it harder to fall asleep.
It’s important to find an exercise you enjoy and stick with it. You don’t have to work out until you’re soaked in sweat or your muscles are sore, and even small amounts of exercise can have a positive impact on your mental health. If you have physical obstacles to getting active, talk to a health professional about ways to get moving.
Get enough sleep
While it might not make the top 10 list of mental health New Year’s resolutions, getting enough sleep is one of the best things you can do for your mental health. A lack of sleep can cause depression and anxiety, and can also exacerbate the symptoms of existing mental health conditions.
When you’re short on sleep, it’s much harder to concentrate, think positively and manage stress. You might even find that you’re more irritable and reactive, and can become easily frustrated when you’re not well rested.
Getting enough sleep is important for everyone, but it’s especially crucial for people with mental health issues. In fact, research shows that there’s a strong link between sleep and mental health. Insomnia and other sleep disorders often accompany mental illness, but some psychiatric medications can also interfere with sleep.
Take a break
Taking even a few minutes of time away from work or everyday tasks can help prevent the stress of burnout and prevent a mental breakdown. It can also give you a chance to reconnect with loved ones and practice self-care, which has been shown to be important for mental health.
Whether it is a micro-break, lunch break or longer time out of the office, research has found that mental health breaks can improve mood, increase productivity and boost overall job satisfaction. Two experts shared with FOX Business why it is so important to make a break a priority during the work day.
While it may seem counterintuitive, a true mental health break should not include any screen time. Instead, opt for activities that calm your central nervous system, shift brain states and promote well-being such as exercise, mindfulness meditation, walking in nature or simply sitting quietly.
Spend time with family and friends
Having close relationships has been shown to improve mental health. Those with strong family relationships tend to seek healthier coping mechanisms for stress, such as confiding in loved ones or seeking out healthy activities like exercising and eating well. In fact, according to Psychology Today, people who have good family connections are more likely to live longer.
Make time to spend with your friends and family a priority. If possible, plan out group activities and try to meet in person rather than just communicating over video call or phone. This is a great way to create a fun, enjoyable habit of spending time with those who matter most to you. This is especially important when trying to overcome a mental health condition, such as anxiety or depression.
Take care of yourself
Like the advice given on airplanes, “Put on your own oxygen mask before helping others,” you’ll be better equipped to help those around you if you take care of yourself. Self-care is important because it can help you deal with stressful situations, overcome challenges, and build healthy relationships.
It can also be helpful to learn all you can about mental health conditions, as this will help you recognize symptoms and know when to seek professional help.
If you’re a person who tends to be hard on yourself, it may help to practice compassion and forgiveness. Finally, it’s important to stay connected to family and friends – even if you can’t meet in person often, taking the time to visit, have people over, or text them can make all the difference.