Is it any wonder that more people than ever before are experiencing mental health distress? After all, there are a lot of things going on in the world that can cause a person to feel a little down! And as such, it’s more important than ever that we’re all taking the time to look after our little ball of happiness. Even if you’re currently feeling well mentally, it’s a good idea to take a proactive approach to make sure you keep in tip-top condition and enhance your mental health.
And while the science surrounding mental health is not complete, we do know of things people can do to nudge it in the right direction. In the blog, we’ll look at some key actions to incorporate into your life — your mental health will thank you.
Exercise
Everyone knows that exercising is good for their physical health, but did you also know that it’s good to enhance your mental health, too? In fact, that’s the primary reason why so many people spend time in the gym — the physical benefits are just a bonus. The main advantage is the serotonin that your body will get, as well as the confidence you achieve from pushing through to get yourself to the gym in the first place.
Limit Your Screen Time
It can be fun to spend some time staring at your phone. But if you spend too long staring at your screen, then you’ll be increasing the chance of falling into depression.
It’s best to think of happiness not as a feeling, but as an activity — and for sure, very few things related to your smartphone are going to bring you joy. If you’ve been staring at your screen for thirty minutes or more, it’s time to put your phone to one side and head outside.
Give Your Body What It Needs
You can help your mental health by giving your body what it needs to be healthy. There are some foods, such as virtually everything on the menu at fast food restaurants, which can make symptoms of mental health conditions worse.
On the other hand, eating healthy meals using quality ingredients can give your body the building blocks it needs to have great mental health. In addition, it’s recommended to take probiotics for mental health, which helps to keep your gut-brain axis in check. If your body has what it needs, then you’ll be well on your way to feeling your best!
Spend Time in Nature
It makes sense that we all live in cities. They’re much more convenient, after all. But for reasons that aren’t quite clear, our brains crave being in the great outdoors. Spending time in nature has been shown to severely reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
You’ll get the benefits from spending just fifteen minutes in nature, but for the full benefits, consider spending at least two hours in nature (either in chunks or all at once) each week. Plus, this approach will help with your physical fitness, too — there’s nothing better than working up a sweat in nature!