Better Mental Wellbeing is Within Reach
Around 1 in 4 people of us will experience a mental health problem every year in the United Kingdom and it can be a really tough situation to deal with and come out of the other side feeling better. That’s why it is so important that we all do everything we can to boost our mental wellbeing and maintain a sense of ease while we are well enough to do so.
There are said to be five key things anyone can do to improve their mental health for the better, so if you aren’t already, start doing the following now and you might not have to be one of the four:
Connect
Loneliness and isolation are not only symptoms of mental health issues – they can be a causative factor too. So, even if you don’t feel like it, make an effort to connect with friends, family members, neighbours and colleagues on a regular basis. You can have your me-time when you need to recharge your batteries, just don’t let it be all of the time.
Move
Yes, it can be annoying when someone tells you to exercise if you’re feeling blue, not least because illnesses like clinical depression really cannot be solved by going for a run, but exercise is useful for mental wellbeing nonetheless. When you exercise, your body produces endorphins which can help you to feel a little happier, so if you exercise regularly, you’ll be less prone to blue moods – it’s not a cure but it does help.
Learn
When your brain is idle, it is more likely to start misfiring which is why it is so important that you keep learning new things all the time. Whether you decide to learn how to knit, enrol on one of the many online mental health counselling programs or accounting courses or you simply learn a new word from the dictionary every day, it will help yo keep your brain functioning well and it will give you a greater sense of achievement which will do wonders for your mental wellbeing. It may even help to stave off dementia as you get older. Learning is one of the most wonderful things you can do for your mind and your life.
Give Back
Dedicating some of your time to helping others, whether that’s by volunteering at the local school’s reading club, looking after sick and abandoned animals or cleaning up your local park, is a fantastic way to make a difference in the world, meet new people, improve your self-esteem and ultimately foster a greater sense of wellbeing.
Practise Mindfulness
Numerous studies have shown that mindfulness – check out this great mindfulness app – which enables you to be more aware of the present, so that you don’t dwell on the past or worry about a future that might not happen, can change your brain for the better, making you more resilient and less prone to mental health issues. If apps aren’t your thing, there’s probably a local class that you can enrol on, so just do it.
Here’s to greater mental wellbeing in the very near future.
