How to look after your Mental Health
World Health Organization (WHO) reports that your mental health is a state of well-being in which you recognize your potential, cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively and enable yourself to contribute to your community. Canadian Mental Health Association and Mental Health Foundation (United Kingdom) identified several tips to keep your mind and body connected, balanced and healthy.
Self-Recognition
Recognize your abilities, capabilities, and weaknesses and endeavor to achieve your goals without putting yourself in distress.
Keep in Touch
Try to connect with your family, friends, and community to seek emotional help. If a face-to-face meeting is not possible, try online chat or call them to discuss your inner feelings, sorrows, and joys.
Use of Effective Strategies to Deal with Stress
Be adaptable to deal with difficulties in your life using problem-focused strategies. Focus on issues instead of emotions. Do not allow your problems and stressors to take charge of your mind and life.
Have a Break: This is Not the End of the World
Your mental health is far more precious than the minor stressors you face in everyday life.
Do what Pleases you and avoid what worries you
Enjoy the activities you like and love to do. Involve yourself in your favorite activities that make you happy, and improve your self-esteem and mastery. It may help you to forget your problems and change your mindset in a positive direction.
Budgeting
Economic strains are a significant reason for stress in your lives. You need to differentiate between “demands” and “needs”. Do not overspend on “wants and demands” when you can survive by reasonably spending on “needs”.
Learn to be Thankful
Focus on blessings instead of deprivations as this can lead to increased well-being and satisfaction.
Be a Volunteer
Interact with the community because it increases your sense of purpose and satisfaction. You may help someone in need or perform small acts of sympathy to make others happy. This sense of a helping attitude can lead to positive well-being and diminish your negative feeling.
Faith in Spirituality or Religion
Engage yourself in spiritual practices that may enhance your psychological well-being, help in coping with stress, and reduce your depressive or anxious symptoms. This may include meditation, prayers, or mindfulness.
Take care of your Eating and Sleeping Habits
Your mental health is connected with physical health. So take a proper diet, refrain from excessive alcohol or drugs, exercise regularly, avoid sleeplessness and go for general medical examinations to improve your well-being.