When you’re feeling a little off balance and are concerned about your mental health, there are some things you can do to re-balance.
- Value yourself: Be kind to yourself, respect yourself and try to avoid self-criticism. Make time for yourself and your hobbies and projects and widen your horizons.
- Surround yourself with good people: People who have strong social or family connections tend to be healthier than those without a support network. Meet up with your supportive friends and family members or look for activities that will help you meet new people.
- Take care of your body: If you take care of your body, it can improve your mental health. Make sure you:
- Eat nutritious meals
- Drink plenty of water
- Avoid smoking and vaping
- Get plenty of regular exercise
- Get sufficient sleep
- Learn how to deal with stress: We might not like it, but stress is a part of life for many people. Practice good coping skills such as taking a nature walk, playing with your pet, writing a journal, and finding things that make you smile and laugh.
- Give yourself: Volunteering is a great way to meet new people and will make you feel good about doing something to help someone else.
- Break up the monotony: Routines help us to be efficient and help make us feel safe and secure. However, a change of pace or an interjection of something different can perk up a tedious schedule.
- Set realistic goals: There’s nothing wrong with aiming high, but be realistic. Decide what you want to achieve and write down the steps it’ll take to realize your goals.
- Quiet your mind: Mindfulness, mediating, or prayer can improve your outlook on life and your state of mind.
- Avoid drugs and alcohol: People sometimes use alcohol and drugs to self-medicate but in reality, they only make the problem worse.
- Get help when you need it: Don’t think of asking for help as a sign of weakness. Treatment can be effective and when people get the right care they can recover from mental illness and go on to lead a full and rewarding life. Read about the real-life support received by one lady struggling with her mental health as a result of her infertility issues. She shares her experiences in a post on All Things Hair.
