Since May is Mental Health Awareness Month and many of my posts are about Mental Health Awareness, my thirteen today are thirteen ways to maintain good mental health.
- Get enough rest. To have good mental and emotional health, it’s important to take care of your body. That includes getting enough sleep. Most people need seven to eight hours of sleep each night in order to function optimally.
- Try to avoid unhealthy mental habits. Repetitive negative mental habits, such as worry and negative thoughts about yourself or the world suck up your time, drain your energy, and trigger feelings of anxiety, fear and depression. Replace those repetitive negative mental habits with positive ones.
- Manage your stress levels. Stress takes a heavy toll on mental and emotional health, so its important to keep it under control. There is no way to eliminate everything that causes us stress, however, stress management techniques can help bring things more into balance.
- Connect with others. We all need to feel valued, supported and connected. If you feel that your current connections are not enough, you can do a few things to form new ones. Enroll in a class that intrigues you. Join a group, like a book club, hiking club, or something else that you find interesting. Volunteer, working together builds bonds and helping others has its own rewards. Reach out. Let people in your life know you need extra time with them.
- Get physically active. Dust off your tennis shoes and get your butt moving. Not only is it good for you body, it is good for your mental health. It decreases stress, anger and tension. It reduces anxiety and depression. It boosts your sense of well being.
- Create Joy and Satisfaction. It is time to add a little something to your to do list. Pencil in a little pleasure. You probably deserve some joy and pleasure anyway, but there are some serious benefits to pleasure. Good feelings can help you bounce back from stress, solve problems, improve your thinking, and even boost your immune system.
- Eat well. Mom was right, you have to eat well to function well. Good food can boost your energy, lower the risk of developing certain diseases, and provide fuel for your brain. It can also counteract the impact of stress on your body, and affect mood-related chemicals in your body.
- Take care of your spirit. Spirituality can provide a reassuring belief in a greater force or being, a sense of purpose and meaning, and helps you focus on your own wisdom, and a way to understand suffering.
- Deal better with hard times. At some point in our lives, most of us will face times that are extra stressful or that even shake us to our core. At those times, having strong coping strategies can make a huge difference. People who spend time writing about a difficult event have better health and less depression. It is also interesting to note, writers doing this often had their grades improves and found writing jobs more quickly. People facing stress often feel better after problem solving. People who focus on the positive in their lives are less upset by difficult memories.
- Help Others. If you lug your elderly neighbor’s groceries up her steps, clearly it’s good for her. But did you know that it’s likely good for you too? Research indicates that those who consistently help other people experience less depression, greater calm, fewer pains and better health. They may even live longer.
- Keep things in perspective. Avoid blowing things out of proportion.
- Prioritize. Set realistic goals. Take small steps to accomplish each task, one at a time.
- Get professional help if you need it. If the problems in your life are stopping you from functioning well or feeling good, professional help can make a big difference. And if you’re having trouble, know that you are not alone: One in four adults in this country have a mental health problem in any given year.
If you or someone you know is feeling especially bad or suicidal, get help right away. You can call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to reach a 24-hour crisis center or dial 911 for immediate assistance.
I do my best to do most of those things…. though sleeping isn't my strong suit. I could use a nap right about now, lol. Good post. 🙂
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thanks! Sleeping is not a strong point for me either. However, that has to do a lot with my depression meds. I always need a nap, and I no longer feel bad about taking one, and I cannot sleep more than two or three hours at a time, most of the time.
I do my best to do most of those things…. though sleeping isn't my strong suit. I could use a nap right about now, lol. Good post. 🙂
My recent post Thursday Thirteen: Promotion
thanks! Sleeping is not a strong point for me either. However, that has to do a lot with my depression meds. I always need a nap, and I no longer feel bad about taking one, and I cannot sleep more than two or three hours at a time, most of the time.
Very important things to keep in mind – difficult to do though it may be, sometimes.
Thanks for the prod in the right direction for many of us who might well need it!
Starting off, yes, they can be difficult. However, once you do them enough, they become habit and you can do them without thinking. At least that is how it has been with me.
Very important things to keep in mind – difficult to do though it may be, sometimes.
Thanks for the prod in the right direction for many of us who might well need it!
Starting off, yes, they can be difficult. However, once you do them enough, they become habit and you can do them without thinking. At least that is how it has been with me.
I am looking forward to reading the journaling link.
Every point is valid, but connecting with others is especially vital. Too many folks closing themselves off from life.
Thanks for sharing.
I hope you like the journaling one, let me know what you think. Connecting with people is vital. However, that has probably been the hardest thing for me to do in my recovery. Even without depression, my nature is to be more solitary than most. I have to make a very concerted effort to connect with others.
I am looking forward to reading the journaling link.
Every point is valid, but connecting with others is especially vital. Too many folks closing themselves off from life.
Thanks for sharing.
I hope you like the journaling one, let me know what you think. Connecting with people is vital. However, that has probably been the hardest thing for me to do in my recovery. Even without depression, my nature is to be more solitary than most. I have to make a very concerted effort to connect with others.
It is amazing to me how much affect our diet can have on how we feel. Which makes me wonder sometimes about where our junk food nation is headed.
My recent post Calendar Math
As a diabetic, I can tell when I eat something I should not. It not only affects my mood, but at some point after eating it, I feel like I have hit a wall and I simply cannot function anymore and will often fall asleep right where I am.
It is amazing to me how much affect our diet can have on how we feel. Which makes me wonder sometimes about where our junk food nation is headed.
My recent post Calendar Math
As a diabetic, I can tell when I eat something I should not. It not only affects my mood, but at some point after eating it, I feel like I have hit a wall and I simply cannot function anymore and will often fall asleep right where I am.
Great tips! I just read an article today about the importance of sleeping. There was a study that showed that getting less than 6 hours of sleep can actually reduce your life years.
I can believe that. With my restless leg syndrome and the depression meds, there are many days when I maybe get two hours of sleep. It makes me feel so rotten when that happens.
Great tips! I just read an article today about the importance of sleeping. There was a study that showed that getting less than 6 hours of sleep can actually reduce your life years.
I can believe that. With my restless leg syndrome and the depression meds, there are many days when I maybe get two hours of sleep. It makes me feel so rotten when that happens.
Hey great tips…Thanks for sharing.
And yes thanks for dropping by my TT.
My recent post Light on Snow
I am glad you enjoyed the tips. Thank you for stopping by.
Hey great tips…Thanks for sharing.
And yes thanks for dropping by my TT.
My recent post Light on Snow
I am glad you enjoyed the tips. Thank you for stopping by.