Awareness of your mental health needs and how to address them is a hugely important part of managing your work and home lives
No matter how hard we try, busy work schedules and fast-paced lives can put strain on our mental health. Although this can be overwhelming, it’s crucial that we take time not only to reflect on the positives of our situations but also work to outline a set of realistic mental health habits that will help stop us from falling back into old, unhealthy patterns.
Resolutions and goal setting are useful. Whether these take the form of getting a promotion at work, achieving a fitness goal or travelling to a new country, these objectives often neglect to include a very important aspect of one’s life, and that’s mental health.
Setting mental health goals may sound foreign to some but they are a crucial step towards improving your mental wellbeing. Goal setting of this kind encourages self-reflection and provides you with an opportunity to understand your actual needs and desires better. Not sure where to start? Begin by thinking about how you can set healthy boundaries, practise self-love, improve your self-awareness and find ways to better your relationships.
Getting quality sleep each night is a non-negotiable, not just for your physical health but for your mental health too. And it’s not just about getting in the right number of hours. The quality of your sleep matters just as much, with disrupted sleep often contributing to mental health symptoms.
It’s important that you put measures in place to ensure you get the sleep you need. Avoid caffeine in the afternoon, set a specific bedtime that you adhere to every night and, finally, limit your social media activity in the evening and remove your phone from your bedroom. Late night scrolling be gone!
Bust a move
Not everyone can find the time to exercise every day, afford a gym membership or dedicate themselves to a regular yoga class. But one thing everyone can do is move their body. And the beauty of movement is that it can mean something different for everyone.
You don’t have to be a marathon runner to support your mental health. From taking stretching breaks throughout your day at work to taking a walk on your lunch break, doing some restorative gardening after a long day or even dancing to your favourite song ahead of your daily commute, there are so many ways you can move your body that fit your schedule, body type and fitness level. So, no matter what you choose, just be sure to move.
We all know the value of eating properly, but a crazy day or even a busy week can wreak havoc on your diet. Whether you are one to skip meals, fill up on unhealthy snacks when stressed or speed-eat over your laptop, all of these habits need to change if you are wanting to keep your mental health in check.
Eating healthy and regular meals should be your first port of call but you can also support improved mental health by incorporating foods that are packed with mood-boosting nutrients. These include berries, bananas, beans and fatty fish. In addition to eating properly, you should also be drinking enough water during the day and aim to stay away from certain foods that increase anxiety symptoms, like caffeine, refined carbohydrates and sugar.
Seek rest
Taking a rest isn’t slacking off or an act of laziness, it is an essential mechanism that gives your mind and body the opportunity to unwind and restore. But as with most things, rest looks different for everyone. For some, rest is a power nap; for others, it’s meditation and, for many, physical rest doesn’t come that easy, so relaxing hobbies like art or music can greatly assist in ensuring you get the downtime your body and mind need.
Whether the measures you are taking to improve your mental health are working or not, a therapist can be a hugely powerful way to improve your mental health.
Don’t wait until things get really bad. Remember, you can seek out professional support at any time. You don’t have to be depressed or having anxiety attacks to benefit from therapy. It’s all about understanding yourself and your needs, and learning to practise healthy habits that will benefit your mental health in the long run.
Text | Emma-Jane Truter
Photography | ViDI Studio
Emma-Jane Truter is founder of and Head Social Media Strategist at Emma Is Social.
For more information, go to emmaissocial.com.
