Look around.
No, actually look around or scan your social media feeds for some time.
If there is one thing that these past few years have taught us, it is that good mental health is vital for our overall well-being. Mental health is not just a buzzword to shrug off in your life. It is an important part of trying to live our healthiest and happiest in the uncertain and anxious times we live.
But, sometimes we get wrapped up in the hustle of our daily lives and forget to take care of our mental health. However, we owe ourselves to take a step back and invest our time and energy to take care of ourselves once in a while.
We bring you the top 15 tips for good mental health to help you find the right inspiration and get you started:
1. Make your bed.
Our tips for maintaining good mental health will start from the very basic place: the bed.
And we know this one’s tricky. But try to get yourself out of bed in time and just straighten things up. Arrange your pillows and fold your cushions. Somedays, this might serve as motivation– if you can make your bed, you can get other things done too.
2. Fill your own cup in the morning (literally and figuratively).
Mental health starts before your work day has even begun. Prioritizing filling your own cup of coffee can serve as a sign of motivation. Making a cup of coffee and enjoying it while thinking about positive reaffirmations can quickly become a daily ritual. This helps you center yourself before you begin your day.
However, it doesn’t necessarily have to be coffee or tea, anything that makes you feel rejuvenated and ready for the coming day might do the needful.
3. Take a bath. It might really help…a little.
It’s a piece of pretty standard relaxation advice. But it might actually help a little.
If you find it challenging to slow down, a calm relaxing bath will be an excellent tip for better mental health. If sleep has evaded you recently, taking a shower half an hour before bedtime will help you sleep better.
Don’t fudge about making your bath extra-luxurious to reap the benefits. That’s just capitalism masquerading as self-care. That being said if you want a spa-type relaxing bath, full support from our sides.
4. Drink more water throughout the day.
This is another one of the basic tips for good mental that no one ever really follows. Okay, guilty of exaggeration. But we all must agree we never really drink the desired amount of water we need throughout the day.
According to professionals, lack of water can flair up symptoms of stress and anxiety. So to take proper care of your mental and physical health, hydration is the key.
5. Try writing your thoughts down.
The awesome feeling you get after venting is because it helps you release your frustration. That’s one of the reasons why keeping a journal is one of the best tips for mental health.
If you are intimidated by the idea of writing, start slow. Take out five minutes every day to write down your thoughts and ideas.
Read more about this tip here.
6. Jump around! Even if it’s for a few minutes.
All of us know that exercises can boost our moods. But, it doesn’t always have to be the pain-staking workouts at your gym. Just put on your favorite number and dance once in a while. Take your dog out for a long walk today. Find the activity that you actually find fun in order to benefit your mental health.
7. Meditate (Even if you think you’re not into it.)
Now don’t roll your eyes at us. Meditation is one of the best tips for good mental health. It might seem like something that yoga freaks and wellness camps teach you, but that’s just a misconception. Take out five minutes every day to meditate. Don’t worry about attaining true peace of mind with it. It is only going to build pressure on you. The fact that you are taking out time for your mind to relax is enough for now.
Read more about this tip here.
8. Be positively selfish once in a while.
Find something that provides you a sense of comfort or brings you peace. Think of something small that might work as a reset button for you. It can be as simple as listening to your favorite song, watching a show, or gossiping with your mother. The only criterion is that it should make you feel good.
9. Eat some fruit.
Meet healthiness in the form of fruits and get some nutrients daily. Fruits will provide you with the much-needed sweet kick. It is also a good way (not easily attainable) to stop binging on another packet of Doritos. At the very least, it will give you a rush of achievement – you ate a fruit today!
10. Try to limit refined sugar in your food and add more magnesium to it.
Cutting back on refined sugar (talking about soda, pastries, etc.) helps you balance your blood sugar. This will help you maintain your energy levels throughout the day.
And while there are no stress-busting foods, magnesium helps alleviate headaches and fatigue. So adding pumpkin seeds and darky leafy green veggies to your diet might be a good idea.
11. Call your people.
Your loved ones will appreciate it, and so will you. If you haven’t had a conversation with your friends or family members in a long time, it is about time you ring them up. Phone, text, FB, Insta DM, Zoom call- literally doesn’t matter. Just check in with the people you love.
12. Do a crossword puzzle.
You can start solving crossword puzzles regularly. With the advent of apps for literally everything, you can now play one on your phones. This can help you take off your mind from something overwhelming. It might also be a good exercise if you want to spend some time with your parents.
13. Delete ‘should’ from your self-talk vocabulary.
There is so much talk right now, especially after the pandemic, about what you should and shouldn’t be doing. There are even checkboxes to tick for how you should or shouldn’t be feeling. And all this is doing is making us feel guilty and stressed.
Next time you beat yourself up for what you should be doing, ask about what you would want to do instead. Don’t let anyone, including yourself, make you feel like you are not doing enough.
14. Stop glorifying hustle culture and get some sleep.
The world we live in today continuously admires the busiest, the most stressed, and the most half-asleep among us. It doesn’t matter what the world tells you; giving yourself time to rest and restart is essential. It is crucial to find time for adequate sleep. Without it, you will not only be a grumpy toddler, but your mental health will also suffer.
Yes, sleep might not really be the magic reset button for all you are dealing with right now, but it still helps.
15. Set a low damn bar.
Unfortunately, when we tell you tips for good mental health, most people will take up that as an exhaustive task that they have to accomplish. One ground rule– always set the bar pretty low when it comes to expectations from these self-care habits. Go easy on yourself. Let things take their course while you enjoy relishing in a good activity once in a while.
Conclusion
It is okay to struggle to take care of yourself. You are not alone. We get how hard it is. It doesn’t always come in easy, and you might feel resistance from within. You might even feel overwhelmed at the thought of going through the trouble of getting any of these tips done.
That’s why you can choose what works for you and does not. The whole idea of self-care is to make yourself feel good. That’s why you determine precisely what meets the requirement.
Your idea of what works for your mental health is your own. And it would help if you didn’t beat yourself up for it not being Instagram-worthy or as glamorous as others. If it makes you feel good and doesn’t harm another person, you are good to go, pal.
Now that you know about the top tips for good mental health let’s tell you why taking care of your mental health is so important. To discover why your mental health matters more than anything else, click here.
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