The state of our mental health has a huge impact on all aspects of our lives. From how we feel physically, to how we act around others, how we treat ourselves, and ultimately how healthy and fulfilling a life we lead. If you feel like your mental health, is suffering it’s important you take the necessary steps to improve your mental health and live a happier, healthier, and more fulfilling life.

Here are some of the most effective ways you can improve your own mental health:

1. Take Care of Your Physical Health

Our bodies release feel-good endorphins when we exercise and engage in physical activities. These endorphins can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. In fact, studies have shown that just a 15 minute run a day can help reduce the risk of depression by 26%.

Depending on your current fitness level, start incorporating some exercise into your daily routine that you’re comfortable with, and slowly start to push yourself harder.

2. Practice Positive Affirmations

Affirmations are positive phrases and statements that we repeat to ourselves to remind us of the positive things in our lives. It’s a way of reminding ourselves of all the good things we have going and push the negative things to the back of our minds.

It seems simple, and it is. Yet, affirmations are powerful self-help tools used by countless successful people to help them get to where they want to be.

3. Keep Good People Close and Push Bad People Away

It only takes one negative person who is close to us to keep us down and have a negative impact on our mental health. Likewise, one good person who is close to us can help remind us of all the good things we have going on and pick us up when we’re down.

It’s a difficult thing to do, but you must push bad people away if they are dragging you down. Sometimes that means cutting them out of your life entirely. Other times, it means not allowing their negativity to Try and create a network of good, positive people close to you to help repel negative energy.

4. Keep Away from Alcohol and Drugs

Alcohol and drugs only provide a short-term feel-good factor. Drugs and alcohol will only enhance the mental health issues you’re dealing with. People often use them to mask their true feelings. This can lead to addiction and further depression or anxiety. As part of an overall healthier lifestyle, it’s important you go sober.

5. Hold down a Good Sleeping Schedule

Lack of sleep affects our mental health, and not in a good way. It’s a vicious circle because someone already suffering from mental health issues will also find it harder to sleep well.

It’s something you must investigate and find what works best for you. Set a time to go to bed, have a healthy bedtime winding down routine, and work on getting more, and better-quality sleep.

6. Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the act of focusing on what’s happening right now. Focusing on what is going on around you, and what is going on in your thoughts.

This is a powerful way to let go of negative emotions from the past that might be weighing us down and cause the mental health spiral we’re currently dealing with.

7. Tackle Stress Head-On

Sometimes you must face up to the fact that you’re stressed and start doing something about it before you can start to improve your mental state.

There are various ways to deal with stress, but it’s about finding what works best for you. It might be journaling, taking holidays, exercising, or a few other things that work. It’s about taking that first step and starting to make positive changes that matter.

8. Improve Your Diet

Ever heard the saying, “We are what we eat?” There is some truth to this. The healthier we eat, the healthier we are. Both in our physical and mental wellbeing.

Start eating more fruits, vegetables, and fish as a start. These foods are full of good nutrients, vitamins, and are some important “Brain foods.”

9. Set Goals for the Future

Without goals to work towards, our lives can start to feel like it is lacking meaning and purpose.

Set some realistic goals, both short-term and long-term to work towards. Try and make it fun and motivating, maybe set some rewards in place for hitting milestones.

10. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help To Improve Your Mental Health

There is nothing wrong with asking for help. Especially if you feel the rut you are experiencing is having a negative effect on your mental health.

It’s going to be easier, and faster to recover with the help of friends and family, and even better with the help of qualified professionals.

Looking for more information on improving your mental health and overall wellness? It’s no secret that our mental health and emotional health can affect every aspect of our lives. If you want to know more about enhancing the health of your brain, call Gateway Counseling today. Schedule a session by calling (561) 600-9459 and speak to a member of our staff to see how we can help enhance your general wellbeing.