How to Take Care of Your Mental Health

Keeping yourself in good health starts with taking care of your mind. Unfortunately, millions of individuals worldwide suffer from poor mental health but are unaware of keeping themselves mentally stable and positive. The good news is that you don’t necessarily have to spend a fortune to keep yourself psychologically healthy – it’s about noticing the warning signs to prevent your mental wellbeing from sliding downhill and making substantial yet simple changes in your everyday life. Below, we have listed a selection of tips to keep in mind to give your mental health a boost:

1. Be open with friends and family

‘A problem shared is a problem halved’ is most certainly true when you’re dealing with worries and negative emotions. Bottling up your thoughts will only cause you to contemplate and cause the dilemma to escalate in your mind, rather than finding a solution to the problem. Remember that opening up to others isn’t a sign of weakness – it allows you to take control of your mental wellbeing and, as a result, should help you feel less alone with your struggles. 

2. Take on a new challenge

Staying in your comfort zone prevents you from trying something new; however, making the brave move to take on a challenge can give you a significant mental health boost. This doesn’t necessarily have to be anything drastic – it could be as simple as seeking a new hobby or adapting to a new bedtime routine. However, if you want to put yourself to the test, you could go as far as undertaking a nature survival trip to trial your abilities and skills and prove you can cope out of your comfort zone. If this sounds like something you may be interested in, you may wish to purchase specialist survival gear from Self Reliance Outfitters to prepare you for the venture.

3. Manage stress

Stress is one of the leading causes of poor mental health. In our everyday lives, we are exposed to stressful situations that make us feel uneasy and tense. However, prolonged stress can lead to serious health complications, including depression, anxiety, and even heart attacks and strokes. Knowing your triggers is key to lowering your daily stress levels, as well as implementing new strategies into your daily schedule, such as:

• Meditation / mindfulness
• Writing a journal
• Exercise
• Breathing techniques
• Yoga

4. Get plenty of sunlight

Research has proven that being exposed to sunlight is valuable to your mental health. Vitamin D emitted from the sun’s rays is vital for our mind, as the brain releases chemicals such as serotonin and endorphins, which enhance our mood. Try and get out in the sun as much as you can, but ensure you use a high factor sun lotion to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. During the winter months, when sunlight is scarce, many individuals suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD); however, light therapy should lessen symptoms of depression reasonably significantly. 

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