Mental health is a serious issue that should not be taken lightly. According to the World Health Organization, “mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.” Unfortunately, many people do not realize how important good mental health is until they experience bad mental health. In this blog post, we will discuss 10 tips so you can improve your mental health!
How Do You Define Mental Health
Before we address how to improve your mental health, it is necessary to clarify just what is mental health. As we mentioned earlier, the World Health Organization defines mental health as “a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.” This definition makes it clear that mental health is much more than the absence of mental illness. Mental health is about feeling good mentally and emotionally, being able to cope with life’s challenges, being productive, and making positive contributions to your community.
This means that mental health conditions include the various mental disorders, psychosocial disabilities, and mental states associated with severe stress, mental impairment, and states of potential self-harm. Mental disorders are characterized by changes in thinking, mood, or behavior associated with distress or impaired functioning. Examples of mental disorders include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and eating disorders.
Psychosocial disabilities are any chronic condition that limits a person’s ability to interact with other people and their surroundings. This can be the result of a mental illness, physical disability, or both. Some examples of psychosocial disabilities include agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Mental states associated with severe stress are those characterized by intense fear, helplessness, or horror. These can be the result of a traumatic event or a long-term stressor. Examples of mental states associated with severe stress include acute stress disorder and adjustment disorder.
Finally, mental impairment is any condition that makes it difficult for a person to think clearly, make good decisions, or control their emotions. This can be the result of a mental illness, physical disability, or both. Some examples of mental impairments include dementia, amnesia, and brain injury.
What Mental Health Is Not
Mental health has become a popular topic recently which has been good for putting more focus on the legitimate issues of mental health problems, but there is a bad side. This has also led to a trend of people needing “mental health days” where they skip work or school. While this can be a legitimate need for someone actually suffering from a mental health problem, there are many people who are simply using it as an excuse to skip work or school. In essence, this has become a new way of “calling in sick” when someone just doesn’t want to work or go to school. While these people may think there is no harm in this, it actually undermines the legitimacy of this for people who are actually suffering from a mental health problem.
Think of it like this. If people call out sick from work all the time, then management may start requiring anyone who calls out to provide documentation they went to the doctor. This means anyone who has a mental issue, who may already be going through medical help, now has to provide additional documentation to legitimize their needs for the occasional “mental health day.”
The Best Tips for Improving Your Mental Health
Value Yourself and Your Health
The most important thing you can do for your mental health is to value yourself and your health. This means making time for yourself, even when you don’t feel like it. It means taking care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally. It means setting boundaries with people and situations that are not good for you. It means taking care of your mind and body as if they were the most precious things in the world, because they are.
Get Help When You Need It
If you are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, depressed, or like you can’t cope, it’s important to reach out for help. This doesn’t mean that you are weak or that you can’t handle your problems. It just means that you need extra support. There is no shame in getting help when you need it. In fact, it’s one of the bravest things you can do.
There are many ways to get help, including therapy, medication, and support groups. Talk to your doctor or a mental health professional to figure out what kind of help is right for you.
Be around the best people
Choose to spend time with people who make you feel good about yourself. These are the people who accept you for who you are, who support your dreams and goals, and who make you feel good about yourself. They are the people who make you laugh, who make you feel loved, and who make you feel valuable. Avoid or just remove the toxic people in your life, even if it is a family member.
Obviously, this doesn’t help with everywhere you go. You can’t choose the people you work with unless you change your job. But you can talk with management about problems you are having with a coworker.
You can’t choose who you are standing in line behind at the supermarket. But you can choose how to respond to that person. So do not take this as an excuse to just avoid going anywhere you might encounter someone you do not like.
Learn to deal with stress
Because you are going to encounter people and situations that upset you, you can’t hide away in a hole somewhere. Instead you need to learn how to better manage your stress. This means having some healthy coping mechanisms in place that help you deal with the inevitable stresses of life.
Some good coping mechanisms include things like exercise, journaling, deep breathing, and meditation. Find what works for you and make sure to use it when you are feeling stressed.
Get Active
Exercise is not only good for your physical health, it’s also good for your mental health. Exercise releases endorphins, which have mood-boosting effects. It also helps to reduce stress and anxiety.
So make sure to get at least 30 minutes of exercise every day. This can be as simple as a brisk walk around your neighborhood.
Set Some Goals
One of the best things you can do for your mental health is to set goals and work towards them. Having something to look forward to and work towards can give you a sense of purpose and make you feel good about yourself.
Of course, your goals don’t have to be big. They can be as simple as taking a class, learning a new skill, or reading a certain number of books in a year. The important thing is that you have something to strive for.
Make Time for Fun
In the midst of a busy life, it’s easy to forget to have fun. But making time for activities that you enjoy is essential for good mental health. Doing things that make you happy can help reduce stress, improve your mood, and increase your sense of well-being.
So make sure to schedule some time each week to do something that you enjoy, whether it’s going for a walk in the park, taking a dance class, or playing with your dog.
Get Enough Sleep
Sleep is crucial for good mental health. When you don’t get enough sleep, it can lead to a whole host of problems, including anxiety, depression, irritability, and difficulty concentrating.
Aim to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep every night. If you have trouble sleeping, there are a number of things you can try, including relaxation techniques, sleeping in a dark and quiet room, and avoiding caffeine before bed.
Build a Better Diet
What you eat has a big impact on your mental health. Eating a healthy diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can help improve your mood and reduce stress.
On the other hand, an unhealthy diet that is high in sugar, fat, and processed foods can make you feel tired, anxious, and depressed. So make sure to eat plenty of healthy foods and avoid junk food as much as possible.
Limit or Avoid Drugs and Alcohol
While it’s okay to have an occasional drink, alcohol and drugs can actually make mental health problems worse. Alcohol is a depressant, so it can make depression and anxiety worse. And drugs can lead to addiction and other mental health issues.
So it’s important to limit your use of alcohol and drugs. If you are struggling with addiction, get help from a treatment center or support group.
Innocent Things That May Affect Your Mental Health
Do Video Games affect your mental health?
It is a good thing to enjoy playing video games. It can help you relax after a long day or provide some fun and excitement on a weekend. However, there are some people who play video games obsessively and it starts to take over their lives. This can lead to social isolation, problems at work or school, and financial problems. If you find that you can’t control your urge to play video games, it may be time to get help.
While mental health is of course a concern with possible video game addiction, there are worse consequences that have happened. For example, there are numerous stories of people dying as a result of spending too much time playing a game. A Chinese gamer died in 2015 due to a blood clot that formed in his leg due to him sitting for up to 12 hours a day playing video games.
Do Pets help with mental health?
Pets can be a great source of companionship and love. They can also provide much-needed support during difficult times. However, if you’re not ready for the responsibility of pet ownership, it’s important to consider the commitment before you make the decision to get a pet.
While there are many benefits to owning a pet, there are also some potential downsides. For example, pets can be expensive, and they may require more time and effort than you’re able to give. If you’re not able to take care of your pet properly, it may have to be rehomed or even euthanized. This can be a heartbreaking experience, so be sure you’re ready for the responsibility before you get a pet.
Mental Health is a Lifelong Effort
“You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
These tips can help you improve your mental health, but it’s important to remember that mental health is a lifelong effort. If you find yourself struggling, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. There are many resources available to help you cope with mental health problems.
