How to Improve Your Mental Health

With all that has gone on in our world over the past couple years, the awareness around mental health has definitely increased. Stressors and challenges are not new, but it does seem that there are more of them today than at any other time in recent history.

Your mental health is extremely important, because it affects how you think, feel, and operate as you navigate through life. The better equipped you are to deal with the stresses of life, the more successful you will be in realizing your full potential, and also helping others to do the same.

Here are several habits you can adopt to improve your mental health, starting today:

• Take care of your physical health. I’ve written a lot about the importance of physical health, which includes being physically active, eating healthy, and getting enough sleep. Taking care of yourself physically is important not only for your body, but also for your mind. Poor physical health affects our mood and, over the long term, increases the effect of stress and anxiety. Make it a priority to exercise regularly, eat a well-balanced diet, and get enough quality sleep.

• Connect with others. If we’re struggling with something, but keep it bottled up inside us, it doesn’t help to solve the problem, and isolates us. Life works better when we have strong, healthy relationships with others, and have people in our support system that we can turn to in times of need. If you need emotional support, then reach out to friends or family members who can help you. If you don’t already have a strong network that extends beyond family and close friends, then explore ways to become more connected in your community. Finding organizations that share your interests or passions is a good place to start.

• Maintain a positive mental attitude. Negativity and pessimism are rampant today. It seems like, no matter where we turn – individual conversations, news channels, or social media – we are bombarded with criticism, cynicism, and doom-and-gloom predictions about everything from health to the economy to public safety. While we don’t want to “bury our heads in the sand,” it’s also counter-productive to dwell on things we can’t control, or to worry too much about the future. Stay positive. If you’re reading this, then you are incredibly blessed. Focus on all that is good in the world, as you work to make things better – for yourself, and others.

• Be grateful. Along the same lines as staying positive, practicing gratitude has a tremendously beneficial impact on how you navigate through life. Since your mind can’t focus on positive and negative information at the same time, being thankful reduces stress, anxiety, and apprehension. One practice I recommend is, before you go to bed, write down three things you’re grateful for. This habit causes you to always end the day on a positive note, and serves as a reminder of the blessings in your life.

• Practice meditation or prayer. We live busy, chaotic lives, and the pace of life for most of us is stressful. One way to counteract the effect of that pace is by slowing down, and incorporating meditation and/or prayer into your life. Whether you invest this quiet time in talking with God about what’s going on in your life, or simply clear your mind of everything, and focus on breathing, setting time aside regularly to calm your mind and body will help you protect your mental health.  

• Give back. Research has shown that giving back can improve our health and well-being, ease feelings of loneliness, and expand our social networks. Volunteering your time, talent, and even treasure to helping other people will make a difference in the world, and cause you to feel good, too.

• Ask for help. Asking for help is a sign of strength – not a weakness. If you don’t know where to turn and you’re feeling overwhelmed for a prolonged period of time (a couple weeks or more), then please seek professional help. If you have a primary care physician, then contact him or her to discuss your concerns. You can also learn more about getting help from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), which is the lead federal agency for research on mental health.

We can’t always control what happens to us, but there are things we can do to stay balanced in the midst of stress and anxiety. What I want for you is for you to be healthy, happy and thriving in life. I hope these suggestions help, and please let me know if I can do anything else to support you.