10 Daily Habits For Improved Mental Health and Overall Well-Being

Mental health is not only about how we feel or respond to stress but also about our overall well-being. Mental healthencompasses how we feel, think and act. While we are all seeking peace and a stress-free life that is not going to be possible all the time. Being intentional with our habits and focusing on creating a routine that will help us cope with anxiety, and stress and boost our confidence.?

Good health whether mental or physical depends a lot on our habits.?

After all, we are what we do,? that’s why habits play such an important role. Habits! But they are so difficult to build.?I know this is what you are thinking, but habits once built carry us a long way.

To have good mental health it is necessary to build good mental health habits.

What are these habits that we can build and follow daily to ensure good mental health and well-being?

1. A good night’s rest- a good night’s sleep is non-negotiable. Adults on average require 7-8 hours of sleep every day. Lack of sleep can result in irritation, change of mood, fatigue and an overall bad attitude. Sleep recharges not only your mind but also your body.?

1. Create an evening routine that will help you get ready for bed. Have an early dinner, close all your digital devices, and change into comfy clothes. Try to maintain the same time to sleep every day. This will help your body get into schedule.?

1. Move your body- exercise can improve your mood and well-being and help you sleep better. With the plethora of options these days you can choose the way you want to move your body.?You don’t have to go to the gym, you can go swimming, for a walk, dance class or play any sport, even stretching for a few minutes every day can have a great impact on your body.

1. Focus on nutrition- eating a well-balanced meal is important not only for getting the right nutrients because nutrient deficiency, which can affect your mental health. Don’t skip any meals or consume too much sugar as this results in huge changes in blood glucose levels which leads to mood variations.?Certain foods like berries, bananas and whole grains have a positive effect on mental health. Keep hydrated, drinking excess caffeine, alcohol can worsen anxiety symptoms.?

1. Talk with others- we are social beings so we should connect and talk with others. Friends or family or your neighbor sometimes just talking it out can help you make a lot better.?Create a support system that you can rely on and cut out people who are not good to you. Ask for help when needed.?Counselling can help with your mental health. Book an online appointment today.

1. Practice journaling and gratitude- journaling about your day and your feelings can help you cope better. Writing about your thoughts can help clear your mind when you are feeling overwhelmed and anxious.??Journaling is a proven way used by counsellors and therapists to track the emotions of their clients.?Practising gratitude gives us a positive outlook on life, if you find yourself struggling or complaining a lot, expressing gratitude can change your mindset.

1. Declutter- clutter can have a lot of negative effects on your life from feeling overwhelmed to frustrated, maintaining clean and organised surroundings can instill a feeling of joy and calmness. Set goals that you can achieve easily, start with one small corner of the room or house and work your way through.?

1. Set boundaries- there is so much to do every day, things are either important or urgent and we are always juggling many things at once. Setting priorities and creating a task list can make things easy for us. Take small breaks, get off work on time, and say no when and where you can.?

1. Go outside- getting some fresh air and sunshine, being in nature even for 10-15 minutes a day can boost our body’s immunity. If you don’t have access to a park, then spend some time on your balcony or patio, or walk to the store to buy groceries instead of ordering in.?

Spending some time outside can work wonders for your mental and physical health.?

1. Limit social media- the first thing we do in the morning is get up and check our phones. We check social media to see who is doing what, and where are they going, or we end up reading the news and refreshing our emails. Spending excessive time on social media can lead to long-term bad effects on our mental health. Constantly looking at social media or the news. can leave you with feelings of being left out, sad or overwhelmed. Try limiting social media and being intentional with it.

Mental health plays an important role in our daily lives. Setting new habits may seem like a challenging task but once the habits are in place they will help create a positive environment that will help you in the long run. Don’t take up all the habits at one go, start small with 1-2 things then create new ones slowly and steadily while maintaining the new one.?Mental health challenges can affect our day-to-day activities, some days we might not be able to get out of bed, or cook or clean up after ourselves. In such cases prepare beforehand, and let your family, partner or roommates know how you are feeling.?If you are not able to manage it on your own, then reach out for help. Skooc is a patient-first mental well-being company that offers online assessment and guidance. Book an appointment today, click here.