7 Steps to Boost Your Mental Health

We’ve all heard the sentence “give yourself the care you would give to others”, and your mental health is no exception. Our emotional health can impact our emotions, thoughts and behavior. It offers a feeling of well-being while contributing to good decision making and helping us cope with problems. Mental fitness is, indeed, essential to lead a balanced and healthy life.

In that regard, you need to make sure you take the necessary actions to keep your mind healthy. In this article, we’ve put together 7 steps you can follow to improve your emotional health.

1. Understand Your Value

It is essential that you know your strengths and that you perform an activity that will build your self-confidence. Schedule some time in your calendar for your favorite hobbies and always aim at broadening your horizons. You can learn a new language, learn how to play an instrument, or take dance lessons.

While valuing yourself, you will make it a habit to treat yourself with respect and kindness. Make sure that you avoid self-criticism as well.

2. Self-Care Is Not Selfish

With a packed calendar, we understand that self-care is not at the top of your priorities list and that you’ll probably favor taking care of others than taking some time for yourself. Yet, self-care is not selfish and you must take care of your body to ensure good mental health.

Try to have a balanced diet and drink lots of water, exercise regularly and get enough sleep! We also recommend that you avoid smoking to keep yourself physically fit.

3. Nurture a Good Family and Friends’ Circle

People who have a powerful support network, including close friends and family members, tend to be happier and healthier than those who have a less caring peer group. Surrounding yourself with encouraging and cheerful people will help you have more fun: you will have the opportunity to plan activities together and meet new people.

Research published in 2008 on Gallup Poll suggests that Americans are happiest when they spend 6 to 7 hours socializing.

4. Manage Stress Better

Stress is part of everyone’s daily life. Whether you like it or not, you’ll not be able to avoid it. The best option is to learn how to handle it better. You can apply several stress management techniques to avoid feeling overwhelmed, including regular exercise, journal writing, and doing Tai Chi.

Another powerful way of dealing with stress is simply by remembering to laugh. In fact, laughter can relax your metabolism, reduce anxiety and improve your immune system.

5. Write Your Life Vision Statement

You need to be specific about what you want to fulfill in life. With a strong vision statement, you will be able to set intelligent and realistic targets. This will help you decide what steps to take to achieve your academic, professional and personal goals. You’ll enjoy peace of mind when you know where you are headed in life and you’ll improve your self-esteem every time you accomplish something.

You can learn how to craft a powerful vision statement online.

6. Keep Away From Drugs and Alcohol

Try to limit your alcohol consumption and avoid taking drugs. These can change how your brain works and result in stress, depression and other mental illnesses. Often people use drugs to self-medicate themselves but this can be very dangerous. Plus, this will only create a temporary relief, aggravating the situation long term.

7. Opt for Volunteer Work

Sometimes, all you need is to give your time to a charitable cause. Helping someone in need will help you feel good while giving you a sense of purpose in life. This, will also be a great way to meet new people.

These are basic steps that will help in keeping you from mental exhaustion. However, if you notice regular changes in your mood, happiness and relationships, there is no shame in reaching out for help. Leave a comment if you know any other helpful tips to boost your emotional state.