10 tips to stay mentally healthy
Enjoying
mental health means having a sense of wellbeing, being able to function during
everyday life and feeling confident to rise to a challenge when the opportunity
arises. Just like your physical health, there are actions you can take to
increase your mental health. Boost your wellbeing and stay mentally healthy by
following a few simple steps.
- Connect with others. Develop
and maintain strong relationships with people around you who will support
and enrich your life. The quality of our personal relationships has a
great effect on our wellbeing. Putting time and effort into building
strong relationships can bring great rewards.
- Take time to enjoy. Set aside
time for activities, hobbies and projects you enjoy. Let yourself be
spontaneous and creative when the urge takes you. Do a crossword; take a
walk in your local park; read a book; sew a quilt; draw pictures with your
kids; play with your pets – whatever takes your fancy.
- Participate and share
interests.
Join a club or group of people who share your interests. Being part of a
group of people with a common interest provides a sense of belonging and
is good for your mental health. Join a sports club; a band; an evening
walking group; a dance class; a theatre or choir group; a book or car
club.
- Contribute to your
community.
Volunteer your time for a cause or issue that you care about. Help out a
neighbour, work in a community garden or do something nice for a friend.
There are many great ways to contribute that can help you feel good about
yourself and your place in the world. An effort to improve the lives of
others is sure to improve your life too.
- Take care of yourself. Be active
and eat well – these help maintain a healthy body. Physical and mental
health are closely linked; it’s easier to feel good about life if your
body feels good. You don’t have to go to the gym to exercise – gardening,
vacuuming, dancing and bushwalking all count. Combine physical activity
with a balanced diet to nourish your body and mind and keep you feeling
good, inside and out.
- Challenge yourself. Learn a
new skill or take on a challenge to meet a goal. You could take on
something different at work; commit to a fitness goal or learn to cook a
new recipe. Learning improves your mental fitness, while striving to meet
your own goals builds skills and confidence and gives you a sense of
progress and achievement.
- Deal with stress. Be aware
of what triggers your stress and how you react. You may be able to avoid
some of the triggers and learn to prepare for or manage others. Stress is
a part of life and affects people in different ways. It only becomes a
problem when it makes you feel uncomfortable or distressed. A balanced
lifestyle can help you manage stress better. If you have trouble winding
down, you may find that relaxation breathing, yoga or meditation can help.
- Rest and refresh. Get plenty
of sleep. Go to bed at a regular time each day and practice good habits to
get better sleep. Sleep restores both your mind and body. However,
feelings of fatigue can still set in if you feel constantly rushed and
overwhelmed when you are awake. Allow yourself some unfocussed time each
day to refresh; for example, let your mind wander, daydream or simply
watch the clouds go by for a while. It’s OK to add do nothing’ to your
to-do list!
- Notice the here and now. Take a
moment to notice each of your senses each day. Simply ‘be’ in the moment –
feel the sun and wind on your face and notice the air you are breathing.
It’s easy to be caught up thinking about the past or planning for the
future instead of experiencing the present. Practising mindfulness, by
focusing your attention on being in the moment, is a good way to do this.
Making a conscious effort to be aware of your inner and outer world is
important for your mental health.
- Ask for help. This can be
as simple as asking a friend to babysit while you have some time out or
speaking to your doctor (GP) about where to find a counsellor or community
mental health service. The perfect, worry-free life does not exist.
Everyone’s life journey has bumpy bits and the people around you can help.
If you don’t get the help you need first off, keep asking until you do.
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