Eight tips for taking care of your mental health

Mental health is essential at all stages of life, from childhood and adolescence to adulthood and ageing. Although looking after yourself and your mental health can sometimes mean seeking professional support, it also includes taking a few self-care strategies to improve your wellness on your own. To help you support your own mental health and wellbeing, here are eight habits you can incorporate into your daily routine.

Take Care Of Your Body

As your mental health and physical health are intertwined, taking care of yourself physically can also help to enhance your mental health and general wellness. Here are some ways to take care of your body:

• Prioritise healthy choices. A balanced and healthy diet can help you get the nutrients you need for your body, which in turn might help you feel better physically, boost your mood and reduce anxiety and stress levels;
• Maintain physical activity. Exercise activates the release of "feel-good" hormones that help to lower feelings of stress and depression and improve your mood;
• Getting quality night's sleep. Lack of sleep makes you easily irritated and angry, as well as increases the likelihood of depression. So make sure you sleep well every night.

Keep A Journal

The practice of writing your feelings and thoughts is thought to help a person's mental state, especially if you are overly stressed out or overwhelmed. The act of writing down your concerns can allow you to 'free' your worry, process your thoughts and make them seem more manageable. Therefore, consider getting into the habit of journaling each day to clarify your thoughts, relieve your mind and help you feel better.

Another benefit that journaling can offer you is the ability to figure out what's truly important in your life by writing down things for which you feel grateful. This simple activity helps you appreciate and focus on the positives in your day-to-day life and can even boost your happiness.

Try Out Meditation

From time to time, you need to be able to take a small break and give yourself the opportunity to just meditate. This beneficial practise allows you to find your peace, breathe correctly and relieve the stress that builds up in your body in a positive and healthy way. 

Meditation also provides an opportunity to connect with yourself, the present moment and empower yourself with doing simple activities, which is essential at times when your thoughts are racing, and your heart is pounding. 

Unlock Your Creative Side

You also need creative outlets to channel your energy into, whether you choose to refer to this activity to relax or use it as a safe activity when you need to cheer up. Maybe it's photography, art, web design, music, a new sport or something as simple as colouring in an adult colouring book - finding the right outlet can impact a person's life on many levels. 

The creative process is known to boost brain function, reduce stress, strengthen the immune system, heighten mental health and increase physical wellbeing. And it is all about the process, not the particular activity, products or skills.

When choosing a new creative activity, consider your personal lifestyle and hobbies. Some people like it best when they are at home with an easel and paints, while others are in their element at a crowded dance club. Some of us would like to play a musical instrument, while for others, there is nothing better than running away on a hike in the forest. So, remember that the new creative outlets you choose should inspire and excite you.

Consider Purchasing CBD Products

Nowadays, mental health issues are now treated with a combination of individual therapy and medication. However, some anti-anxiety medication can cause side effects, such as mood swings, nausea, weight gain, and even worsening of depressive symptoms. Intake of cannabidiol (CBD) offers a natural alternative for dealing with anxiety and stress.

Due to the potential interaction with the body's natural endocannabinoid system, CBD is able to indirectly influence various receptors to aid in regulating vital processes, such as sleep, pain, memory, immune response, stress and many others. These receptors are located throughout the body, so it makes sense that if you keep your endocannabinoid system in balance, you will feel great.  To use CBD oil for anxiety, you can try out various products, such as CBD vape juice for your vape pen, capsules, edibles like CBD gummies, oral tinctures, moth sprays and many others. 

Get Some Sunshine

Whether it is a long walk in a park or just a few minutes with your coffee during your work break, try to go outside every day. Exposure to sunlight will increase your levels of serotonin, a hormone that can help improve your mood, promote a sense of calm and boost concentration. It may not seem like a big deal, but you would be surprised what regular fresh air and natural sunlight can do for your wellness.

Connect With Others

Communication with other individuals is an essential part of living a balanced life. Hanging out with your best friends and people who you enjoy being around can help you feel better, addressing loneliness, concerns and negative feelings.

You can find different activities that you both enjoy, such as doing a big puzzle, bringing out the Legos or playing a board game, or just catch up, chat and spend some quality time together. Since humans are social creatures, make an effort to reconnect and socialise with your friends, relatives and family members.

Don't Forget To Have Fun

Daily life can be quite hectic: you spend most of your time in the office and come back to your home full of chores and different tasks, making it easy to forget to pause for a minute and really enjoy every moment as it comes.

While our routines make us more efficient and increase our sense of security and safety, a slight change in pace can spice up a tedious schedule. Adding some fun activity to your day or week will give you a reason to be happy and something to look forward to. These hobbies can include exercise, arts, crafts, adventure, or even unwinding with a good book. 

Taking some time for yourself to experience what you love and have fun can help you enjoy your life more and improve your mental health beyond imagination. Try to make it a regular thing, and you will find yourself getting lost in the moment and replacing your negative emotions with positive ones.