In honor of World Mental Health Day yesterday, I thought we could take a second today to talk about ways to improve our overall mental health! It can be easy to get stuck in a funk, to let a spiral of depressing thoughts shape our day to day world, but there are so any ways we can combat these scary thoughts throughout the day. More movement, more presence, and stillness are all ways to improve our mental health on a day to day basis. Here are specific ways we can all improve our mental health:
Get outside!
Have you ever been so upset and felt like the walls of your room could be caving in on you, but as soon as you walked outside you felt some of the pressure lift? It’s not a coincidence! Getting outside can change your perspective, make whatever is upsetting you not feel as bad, and you might even come to a clear solution sooner!
Go for a walk around your neighborhood, or a hike nearby. You’ll feel a little better by the time you’re done.
You can even be preventative by getting outside as soon as you wake up. You’ll start the day with a clearer mind after getting in a crisp neighborhood walk or hike.
Get moving!
Moving forces you to get out of your head and into your body. Simple stretches in your living room or office can do the trick. Full on workouts in a gym, or classes like yoga or spin can do wonders for your mind and your body. Allowing you to stop thinking about your problems and be as in the moment as possible. Starting the day with a simple workout, or doing one when you are feeling down can be an amazing way to improve your mental health.
Get still!
The last way to improve your mental health on my list will be getting still. Meditating can be an incredible release when we are feeling down, or an incredible high to just start your day with. It can be as easy as sitting and listening to the air conditioner in your home or office run. If you’d like more guidance for your mind to listen to so your thoughts don’t wander off, you can Youtube different meditations or use apps like Calm or Headspace for guided and structured meditations.
Meditating can give you space from any problem you might have. Give your mind a moment to breath, and your body a chance to relax, and by the end of it you may even have your solution.
Protecting your mental health is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. At the end of the day our lives are not about what happened to us, but our perceptions of what is happening to us. By protecting your mental health and doing small things every day to keep it up, you are giving yourself space and a break from any problems or trauma you are having and room for solutions.
What do you normally do to improve your mental health?! Leave a comment on my Instagram post (:
