09 Oct Tips for improving mental health
Mental health is a state of social and emotional wellbeing that assists us to cope with stressors and bounce back from challenges. Having good mental health assists our daily functioning by improving our ability to engage with our work, social and personal lives and be involved within the community. Being aware of the things that you can do to improve your mental health can support you to engage to your full potential and live life with a greater sense of satisfaction.
Identifying stressors and warning signs for mental health difficulties
Understanding and identifying your common stressors can assist you to anticipate times when you may need additional support for your mental health. Stressors may include managing high workloads or multiple commitments, transition points, changes or tensions within your work or family, and difficulties with friendships or your relationship.
Identifying your warning signs that your mental health may need some additional focus and support can help you to promptly engage in strategies to assist you. Common warning signs may include:
- Mood changes – such as irritability or emotional ups and downs.
- Changes in thinking patterns – such as having a ‘negative lens’ or difficulty seeing things in a positive light.
- Behaviour changes – such as withdrawal from others, or neglecting your responsibilities.
- Changes in sleeping or eating patterns – difficulty sleeping, fatigue or sleeping more than usual. Overeating or a loss of appetite.
Strategies to improve mental health
Strategies to help with both improvement and maintenance of good mental health can assist you to live your life to the fullest. The following strategies may be helpful:
Gratitude practice – active and regular gratitude practice has many benefits for your mental health and wellbeing. Actively focusing on the positives and things that we are thankful for builds our attention towards things that are going well and can assist in improving our mood and sense of connection. Find some time to actively think of at least three things a day that you are grateful for (big or small) and you will likely see improvements in your overall well being in a week or so.
Self-care strategies – Many people find it easier to show kindness and gratitude to those around them more than they do so in showing care towards themselves. Engaging in regular self-care is an important strategy to support good mental health. Many people tend to engage in self-care activities once they’ve noticed that they are struggling, but having a self-care plan in place involving regular activities to care for yourself physically, mentally, socially, emotionally, and spiritually can improve your capacity to cope with stressors when they rise. Find what works for you whether it may be enjoyable hobbies, listening to music, setting time to switch off from work, going for a walk, nurturing your social relationships or showing self-compassion.
Regular exercise and nutrition – regular exercise can release feel good chemicals to assist in reducing stress, improving mood, confidence and mental health. Plan something outside to get a boost of vitamin D or arrange an activity with a friend to improve your motivation to get moving. Having a balanced diet and drinking lots of water can also support good mental health and wellbeing.
Good sleep hygiene – Getting a good nights’ sleep is extremely beneficial for good mental health. Most people require 7-9 hours per night and having a regular bedtime and wind down routine can support this. Turning off devices at least 30-60 minutes before bed also assists with a more rested sleep.
Stay connected – making time to engage with and nurture the relationships that are important to you is important for your mental health and wellbeing, and serve as an important source of support when life is challenging. It can also be helpful to engage with your community through hobbies, clubs, or sports, so finding a local group of interest can also help in improving connections.
Access professional support – Professional support can be highly beneficial to support improving your mental health and wellbeing. Speaking with your General Practitioner (GP) may be a starting point and engaging with a Psychologist or Counsellor can assist in developing your awareness and strategies of how you can improve your functioning and engagement with things that matter to you most.
If you are interested in improving your mental health and would like to engage with one of our clinicians to support your journey in flourishing, please contact us at Prosper Health Collective for further information on 6381 0071.
