We all want to feel happy, yet it’s not uncommon for life to throw stresses and setbacks at us from time to time. The important thing is that we have tactics to cope during tougher times. We must all learn to value our mental wellbeing as much as our physical. Perhaps you’re looking for a few tips on how to give your mental wellbeing a boost? If so, these nine ideas will give you plenty to think about.
1. Cook mindfully
Mindful cooking is all about being aware of what you put into your body and considering which foods you need to eat depending on your mood and energy levels. Apps like Yogic Foods, are helpful to get a head start on mindful cooking. In each recipe, the app tells you the health properties of every single ingredient. You’ll also get details about how each recipe is related to a chakra ( these are thought to be the connected energy centers of the body). With the Yogic foods app, you can learn about which foods will benefit your mood and emotions, plus learn some tasty vegetarian and vegan recipes.
2. Social media breaks
To improve your emotional health, reducing your time spent on social media can be a good way to do so. One study cited in Forbes magazine reports that excess time spent on social media has adverse mental health effects. Try to limit your consumption to just fifteen minutes a day, or take a break for a week or so altogether. When you do use social media, ask yourself- which content makes you feel positive and which content makes you feel negative? Doing so can allow you to make better choices in terms of who you follow and which articles you read.
3. Keep on learning
Lifelong learning refers to the process of always continuing to seek out new knowledge, throughout your entire life. It’s easy to get comfortable in a job or a family role and then, unintentionally, not push yourself to learn new things. When you learn consistently, you increase your chances of improved positivity in your social life, emotional life, and work life. Depending on your aspirations, your learning goal could arrive in many forms; it could simply be reading widely across different genres. It could also be practicing a language learning app or even taking a postgraduate degree. Institutions like Regis College offer some excellent online courses to study from the convenience of your own home.
4. Use a journal
Writing in a journal is a wonderful gift to yourself, with both practical and emotional benefits. You could start by using a journal simply to plan your schedules and to-do-lists. Gaining improved organization over your life can help you to feel more calm and productive. Journals are also a great space to write down positive memories or deal with difficult feelings that have been troubling you. Many feel that writing is both calming and therapeutic during times of stress, whether it’s a letter to yourself, a poem or a simple health goal for the day.
5. Give something back
One study reported on Web MD reports that altruism offers positive mental health benefits. To enhance your own mental health, helping others is the key. There are plenty of charities out there that you can support. Take a look at ’‘This Is My Brave’, a charity that helps individuals with mental illnesses to share their stories via creative means such as poetry or music. The website offers details of how you can get involved by ‘becoming a brave champion’. You’ve likely heard of Women’s Aid, a charity who work to protect women and children against domestic violence. This organization also offers many opportunities to help by campaigning or fundraising. There may also be local charities close to home that you could reach out to.
6. Get back to nature
The natural world is the perfect space for us to lift our endorphins and reduce tension levels within the body. Ask yourself how much time you spend amongst nature? Think about how you could increase this with a few simple steps. It could be adding a bike ride to your weekend regime or perhaps taking up a sport that involves being outdoors. Another great way to get back to nature is by trying a foraging class or course. Foraging involves going to a woodland area, gathering wild foods from the earth and then using them in cooking. Typical foods you’d look for include herbs, berries, nuts, mushrooms, wild garlic, etc. You’ll get a lovely stroll in the forest plus you’ll get to learn all about wild foods and cooking.
7. Gratitude
Practicing gratitude is a really simple way that all of us can improve our mental health. True gratitude is about valuing everything you have, especially the small things that you take for granted. Start by writing yourself a list of the things that you are grateful for. Make it part of your daily routine to look over the list, so that you can be more mindful. Put small practices into your routine that help you reflect on all of the good things in your life.
8. Home improvements
Our homes are the spaces where we want to feel relaxed and at peace, so we have to ensure that we create a welcoming space. You don’t have to blow the budget to improve your home. One of the easiest things that you can do is to clear out your unwanted items, and give everything a deep clean. Next, invest in a few health-boosting decorations; from indoor plants to aromatherapy candles. Hang inspirational quotes on the walls and pictures of your loved ones. Invest in comfy blankets and huge pillows for those chill-out times on the sofa. If you want to feel more relaxed, simple touches to our home can make all the difference.
9. Make a book of memories
Do you ever feel like all your lovely pictures only end up on social media? Make it your mission this year to print out all of your favorites and put them into a photo album. It’s nice to have tangible memories to look back on in years to come. Spending time to make a book of memories just for you is a great gift of self-care.
