Awareness of the importance of taking care of our mental health has grown significantly compared to the past years, unfortunately, it can be because mental health problems are also on the rise. More and more people are being diagnosed with depression, anxiety, mood disorders, etc. If we don’t want to be another statistic, there are simple steps we can take to improve our mental health.
1. Stay away from social media occasionally
Sure, there are a lot of benefits to using social media. It's been a treasure trove of informational and educational content, it has given a lot of people different career opportunities, and it served as a bridge for us to communicate with friends we’ve lost touch with. But the downside is that it's also been easier for us to compare our lives to others based only on what we see on these sites, not fully recognizing that some of the content we see on them is not necessarily the same in real life. The algorithms are also based on putting content in our feeds that will scare and outrage us.
2. Lead a healthy lifestyle
There’s a correlation between a healthy body and a healthy mind. When our bodies feel good, our mind is at peace because we don’t Google any symptoms. Of course, regular exercise, staying hydrated, and eating healthy and regular meals also affect our mood. Remember that Snickers advertisement “You’re not you when you’re hungry”? It just goes to show how our mental health is affected by our physical well-being.
3. Find a hobby
Life can be overwhelming, and if we don’t have a hobby or any other interests to distract us from some of our daily stressors, it’s easy to lose our perspective. Finding a relaxing activity that can help us take a breather and refocus on our goals and priorities, or just to let us see that we still have a lot to be thankful for is another step we can take into caring for our mental health.
4. Learn how to cope
When we are faced with a stressful situation, what do we usually do? Do we face it head-on, or do we step back and assess the situation first? No matter what our instinct is or what method we apply to endure a circumstance that affects our mental health, the key is finding a coping strategy that works for you.
5. Talk to someone
One of the ways we can unburden ourselves of our negative thoughts and feelings is by sharing them with someone who can understand us. Whether it's a trusted friend, a long-time partner or a family member, just having someone to talk to can improve our mental health. If we don’t have someone or if our burdens are just too much to handle, there’s nothing wrong with seeking professional help.
Sometimes, taking care of your mental health includes disconnecting from everyone. The world may not stop spinning while you take time off, but when you are ready, you will have the physical and mental resilience again to jump back into the rat race.
