6 easy-to-follow tips to improve mental health

Getting up early, meditating, exercising, and replenishing your plate with a variety of healthy treats can do wonders for a person’s physical health. However, in this fast-paced and technology-driven era, it is not enough to take care of physical health to achieve general well-being.

Because mental health and physical health depend on each other, it is essential to take care of mental health to increase resilience and strengthen the conviction to overcome all kinds of obstacles at different stages of life. At the same time, a healthy state of mind acts as a bulwark against substance abuse, psychological stressors, and other adverse conditions. It is an indispensable element to lead a happy life.

Although the mainstream culture is generally quick to dismiss mental disorders and conditions as behavioral problems, they are just as fatal as physical illnesses. Most of the stigma and misconceptions associated with mental disorders are due in part to inaccurate beliefs and information.

Such is the importance of good mental health that a person must not experience the symptoms of a psychiatric disorder to make the decision to care for their mental health. Everyone benefits from a healthy and positive mood, regardless of gender, age, social status, or ethnicity. A person’s mental health determines how they will feel, respond, and act on a daily basis. It also directs your approach to coping with stress, decision-making skills, social interactions, etc.

Here are some ways to improve mental health:

• Start the day with a cup of coffee: Starting the day with a cup of coffee has been associated with lower rates of depression. Another hot drink that improves mental health is green tea.
• Keep a Gratitude Journal: When a person analyzes their thoughts or counts blessings, it helps to recognize and appreciate who they are and what they have. Research suggests that expressing gratitude in a journal (digital or on paper) improves mental health and provides clarity.
• Do a digital detox: It’s a good idea to unplug from time to time. Although smartphones offer real-time communications and a wide range of utilities, they often become addicted to the Internet and social networks. As a result, they keep constantly checking email notifications and alerts. Put the phone behind you for the day, get involved in something fun, or enjoy a heart-to-heart with someone.
• Take a leap of faith: Fear of failure, commitment, and receiving the short end of the stick often prevents people from trying something they’ve always wanted to do or improve. As the saying goes, “You don’t have to see the whole ladder, just take the first step,” focusing on moving in the right direction is better for a person’s mental health than being stuck. Instead of constantly worrying and looking over one’s shoulder, one should face situations as and when they arise.
• Go for a quiet walk: A walk, preferably in a quiet and serene place like a park or in the woods, instills new energy and insights. Research shows that taking a walk is associated with increased energy levels, cortisol burn, protection against depression, and increased general well-being.
• Smile like you mean it: Putting on a happy expression during stressful times and difficult periods can be too much to ask. However, smiling is surprisingly an effective coping mechanism, as it lowers your heart rate and has a calming effect. In fact, another reason to instill this healthy practice is that smiling uses fewer muscles than frowning, which protects the face from developing fine lines and wrinkles.

A mind is too precious to be wasted

To achieve a healthy balance in life, it is important to take care of both mental and physical health. Mental health neglect is sometimes an important risk factor for the development of psychiatric disorders. Therefore, it is essential to remember that seeking help in such cases is not a sign of weakness but of strength.