Mental Health Month is traditionally scheduled for the month of May, and this year is no exception. You might be surprised at the powerful impact that good mental health can have on your physical health, and there’s no doubt the two are strongly connected. By taking steps to maintain good mental health, you can go a long way toward also keeping yourself in good physical condition. There are exceptions of course, where one or the other is simply a standalone condition, with no corresponding impact on the other aspects of good health. However, by managing your mental health conscientiously, you really can expect to enjoy better physical health as well for the most part. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the steps you can take that will improve or maintain the current good level of mental health you have.
Avoid harmful substances
It will be much easier for you to maintain a good state of mental health by avoiding harmful substances like tobacco, alcohol, or any kind of addictive drug. Some people may feel that they need these props in order to cope with the stresses they’re feeling, but you’re always much better off avoiding these things in your life. They may help you manage stress somewhat better in the immediate instance, but they will definitely make you feel worse in the long term. It’s also worth noting that these substances can be hazardous, and can increase your risk of injury or disease. In addition to that, anyone you come in contact with might also be exposed to the same kind of risk for injury or disease.
Talk to a trusted individual
It can always help to have a conversation with a friend, colleague, or family member that you have complete trust. Sometimes sharing what you’re going through can take a tremendous burden off you, and help you to feel better about the situation. Even if you live in a somewhat remote area where in-person engagement is not easy to arrange, it’s very simple to stay connected with loved ones through phone calls, messaging apps, or video conferencing. The main point is to open up and share with a trusted individual, so you can relieve yourself of whatever kind of anxiety or stress you’re going through.
Focus on natural surroundings
Whatever kinds of stressors or triggers for anxiety that you may be experiencing in your life, it’s always a good idea to banish those thoughts from your mind and take some time to connect with the world around you. You may have to close your eyes and focus inward in order to detect the things that you can hear or smell in your surroundings. Then, you can open your eyes up and take notice of the visual stimuli in the area. Engaging with the living world around you can be a very helpful exercise that removes all those negative thoughts swirling around in your head. By reaching out and engaging with the natural world, you can temporarily forget about all your troubles and anxieties, and simply enjoy the uncomplicated existence of the natural world.
Do some of your favorite activities
One great way of improving your mental health is to do as many activities as possible that you find enjoyable and meaningful. Some of these might be reading a book, walking in the park, cooking a favorite meal for yourself or your family, playing with pets, or possibly watching something on television. If you can schedule activities like this regularly throughout your daily routine, you’ll have the framework for a lifestyle that keeps you feeling happy and helps to maintain good mental health. Obviously, life can’t be a series of fun activities every day, but by sprinkling in a good number of events that you truly enjoy, you can make each day worth looking forward to, and you will undoubtedly enjoy better mental health.
Keep your physical health in mind
Just as maintaining good mental health will have a strong impact on your physical health, so will maintaining good physical health have an impact on your mental health. If you can be active for at least 30 minutes every day, that will be a good way to maintain your physical health, and that will also be felt in your mental state. There are a number of physical activities you can try, even if you’re not especially fit. You can engage in gardening, walking, bicycling, jogging, or dancing. These activities will get your heart pumping and will help to maintain good physical health. It’s also important that you have a healthy diet that is balanced with all the protein, vitamins, minerals, and nutrition provided by natural foods. One other aspect of physical health that is sometimes overlooked is getting a good night’s sleep. Do whatever you can to promote a good night’s sleep by making sure your bedroom is darkened, there are no distractions in the background, and the temperature in your bedroom is conducive to a good night’s sleep. This will help you wake up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, making the next day seem much more inviting and appealing.