The past years have been extremely difficult for all of us. The stress and worries caused by COVID-19 have made us become more anxious, scared, and even depressed. These negative emotions are understandable; however, you have the power to control your outlook in life despite whatever situation you’re going through. That’s why taking care of your mental health is essential during this tough time. Don’t worry, here are six ways to look after your mental health.
Share your thoughts with someone you trust
Whether that’s a friend, a family member, a colleague, or anybody that you feel comfortable with, talking to them can help to improve your mental wellbeing. Talking about your feelings allows you to deal with the burdens building up in your mind. Though it may be easier said than done, try to open up to someone you trust and tell them your worries.
Once you’re able to share what you’re going through with someone who cares, you will receive support from them, which greatly improves your mental well-being. If you’re living far away from your loved ones, a simple phone call or video call on your handphone can keep you connected to them.
Take care of your physical health
Physical and mental health are closely linked to each other. You’ll be surprised at how taking care of one can help maintain the other. For example, regular exercise keeps the brain and your organs healthy, which can significantly improve your mental wellbeing. Doing a sport or having workout sessions are good examples of physical activities that you can do. However, if you’re a beginner or don’t exercise that often, a simple walk to the park, doing yoga, or even dancing is considered good activity to keep your body active.
It is recommended that most people should spend 30 minutes/day exercising. So, try to spare some time and exercise daily, then you’ll boost your health as well as mental well-being.
Engage in your favorite activities
Remember the things that you used to enjoy doing? Now it’s the perfect time to get back and make the most out of those hobbies. Whether trying out a new recipe, playing with your pet, reading a sci-fi book, or watching a horror movie, stick to that hobby and spend time doing it. It’s a good idea to have a routine and do it daily, as it will keep you excited and happy doing the things you love.
Clean your home
The environment that you stay in will not only affect your physical health but also, your mental health. A messy room full of clutter can make you feel bored, lazy, and demotivated, which is extremely harmful to your mental wellbeing. Take some time off your busy day and clean your home, start decluttering and organizing your stuff. This might also be a therapeutic activity that will help to declutter your mind, uplift your mood as well as enhance your productivity.
Relax your mind
Allow your mind to break from constant thoughts by doing meditation and mindfulness practices. These activities act as a relaxation exercise that calms your mind down, allowing you to improve your mental state.
Experts have shown that meditation and mindfulness practices can help people reduce stress, therefore maintain positive mental health. Meditation can also be used to treat patients with anxiety, addiction, aggression, and depression. Prepare to light some candles, play relaxing tunes from your phone, and your Samsung smartwatch and let’s get meditated!
Pay attention to what you eat
You may not notice, but your relationship to food affects your physical health and your mental well-being. Thus, having a balanced and healthy diet will improve both your body and mind. Remember to make the most of your meal vegetables and fruits with a balanced portion of proteins and carbs. The importance of having a healthy diet is to provide your body with various sources of nutrition.
Having a healthy diet is also reflected in your attitude towards food. While enjoying a meal and trying out new foods, make sure not to obsess over what you’re eating. This would allow you to control your mental relationship to food, thus improving your mental health.
Conclusion
Mental health can be challenging for you to talk about. However, the more we talk about and normalize it, the easier it is to seek help. I hope these steps can help you maintain and improve your mental wellbeing.
