We all know the importance of good physical health, but it can be extremely easy to forget about keeping yourself mentally healthy too. Regardless of whether you have been medically diagnosed with a mental health condition or simply feel stressed from time to time, it’s important to put time aside to concentrate on your mental wellbeing. Science has proven there are certain things you can do to improve your mindset and allow you to have a much more positive outlook on life. Here are just a few ideas that have been proven to be effective when it comes to improving mental health:
Spend time outdoors
Research has found that spending just 90 minutes outside each day can decrease your brain’s activity in an area called the subgenual prefrontal cortex. This is a section of the brain where negative thoughts run free and cause us to feel stressed. A study in 2010 carried out by the Environmental Science & Technology also found that just 5 minutes outside can improve our confidence and mental frame of mind dramatically. Instead of sitting in front of the TV, why not take a walk in the park or sit in the garden as a way of giving yourself some self-care?
Yoga
Yoga is an ancient form of flexibility and physical strength and has been proven to boost mental health too; specifically, those who suffer from depression. This is due to the fact that yoga relieves tension in the body and allows you to feel a sense of control in comparison to how your mindset may be tricking you into believing you’re out of your depth.
You don’t have to leave your house to take part in a yoga class. Yogaselection.com is an online platform yoga-training platform in which you can communicate directly with your teacher whenever you need to. You can access the classes from any device, meaning you can train at home, on vacation, or in your lunch breaks at the office whenever you have a spare few minutes.
Surround yourself with good people
Those who surround themselves with positive and supportive individuals are far happier than those who feel alone. It can make you feel much more content in life knowing that friends have your back whenever you’re having a low moment. So, if you would like to form close connections, take the leap of faith and join clubs or societies where you can meet other like-minded individuals and hopefully build new friendships.
Schedule worry time
It may seem like a strange concept to consider, but allowing yourself ‘worry time’ will actually prevent you from tormenting yourself with negative thoughts on a constant basis. Science has proven that allowing yourself a 30-minute worry slot each day will actually reduce your anxieties over time. Voicing your stresses constantly, however, will just make you feel worse, rather than finding solutions to your problems. So, with this in mind, set time aside to worry each day and then try and move on.
Get professional help
In some situations, you may be in need of some external help to manage your worries or negative feelings and there’s absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. Speaking out is a sign of strength, so try not to view your cry for help as a weakness. If you make the well-informed decision that you want to conquer your battle with mental health, you’re already halfway there. By having regular sessions with a counselor, you will go on to lead a happy and successful life once you have the necessary strategies in place to overcome your issues.
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