Mental health is something that still carries a stigma and not many people speak about it outright. It is also something that may not be put on the forefront for a person. October is Mental Health Month, where awareness is raised around mental health and wellbeing. This month people are encouraged to share their journey and understand where someone is emotionally, how they got there and where they are going.
Looking after our mental health is something we talk about with our clients. It doesn’t always have to be something complicated or hard to do to help someone, sometimes it’s doing the simple things that can get forgotten along the way. We encourage our clients, and ourselves to remember and look after our mental health, as well as help support others who may be having difficulties.
We have listed 10 simple ways that you can start looking after your mental health:
Talk about your feelings: Don’t hold your feelings in. Sometimes it’s good to share them to people you trust. Allowing yourself to be honest and open with those you trust can take a some weight off from holding it in yourself.
Keep active: Exercising regularly can help boost self-esteem, concentration, sleep and increase mood. Doing things and exercising can release endorphins that are shown to make you feel bette, both mentally and physically. Even going for a walk is great.
Eat well: A good nutritious diet is good for your brain. Certain food are linked to better mental health and can help with things like concentration, energy and mood as well.
Drink sensibly: Don’t drink to manage difficult emotions, it won’t help in the long term, and can have negative long-term effects. Drinking in moderation and for fun social events is okay in limits. It’s when it becomes a habit to take the edge off or escape negative feelings, is when other ways need to be sought.
Stay in touch: Keeping in contact with people is good for you. Social connections bring people together and decrease loneliness which in the long run can have positive impacts on mental health.
Seek support: It’s harder to do things on our own, especially when we are down, it’s best to ask for help. Don’t be ashamed to ask for help when you need it. People who suffer in silence, find it harder to recover.
Take time off: Take a break when you feel you need it. It can be a few minutes, hours or days. It can be a few minutes of mindfulness or taking time to just sit and relax, or reading a book for a few hours, and if need be, taking a weekend holiday to just relax.
Do something you’re good at: Enjoyment and accomplishment can reduce stress. If you have any hobbies or favourite things to do, it’s a good idea to participate in them as often as you can. For example, if you play a sport your’e good at, organise a game - that will give you accomplishment.
Be kind to yourself: Everyone’s different, accept who you are and feel good about it. If things don’t go to plan, don’t be hard on yourself. being kind to yourself is one of the most important (and maybe hardest) things we can do for ourselves.
Care for others: This is important to keep up relationships with those close to you, as well, it can make you feel good to know that you are making someone else happy by helping them.
Our team at Melbourne Wellbeing Group thrives on promoting the mental health and wellbeing of people of all ages. If you or someone you know are having some struggles, give us a call to make an appointment with one of our team of Psychologists