You’re not alone in managing troublesome mental health problems. From minor stress to serious daily anxiety, it’s hard to know how you cope with these issues and enjoy your life. It won’t be as simple as flicking a switch and magically seeing a change – though you can make things better and more manageable by following some positive daily lifestyle habits.
Begin and end your day with meditation
Start every day with 5-10 minutes of meditation. Numerous studies show that mindfulness can ease stress, anxiety and depression, benefitting your mental well-being. Meditation gives you the opportunity to take a moment and relax. Focus on your breathing and think about what you’re thankful for in life. It’s a fantastic way to kickstart your day with a positive mental attitude – and it also wipes away any brain fog that usually kicks in when you wake up.
Likewise, meditating at the end of your day is equally beneficial. This helps you let go of all the mental stress you’ve clung to throughout the day and be ready for bed with an emptier head.
Eat a healthy and fulfilling breakfast
Did you know that the Mental Health Foundation recommends you follow a balanced diet to improve your mood? Research indicates that filling your body with nourishing foods will help you stay mentally healthy. It’s because you’re eating whole foods that are rich in essential vitamins and minerals, which help to regulate your body’s hormonal system. In turn, you end up producing more of the hormones that keep you in a good mood and less of the ones linked with depression or anxiety.
A healthy breakfast is the perfect way to start the day because you’re eating good foods that make you feel more energised. It’s easier to attack the day and feel mentally refreshed when you actually feel like you’ve eaten a good meal.
Dedicate at least 30 minutes to exercise
Everyone should be aware by now that exercise is heavily intertwined with mental health. Staying physically fit and healthy is the first step to achieving mental wellness. The endorphins released by exercise help to regulate your mood, but the progress you see through a fitness regime gives you an even bigger mental boost. You grow in confidence, feel more sociable, and everything just seems better.
The key is to build a sustainable fitness routine that’s easy for you to follow. Make it work around your workday so you can dedicate at least 30 minutes to exercise every day. The more consistent you are, the more benefits you see.
Train your mind with a relaxing game
Training your mind is just as important as training your body – especially when your mental well-being is concerned. Set aside a few minutes every day to play some relaxing and mentally stimulating games. Good options include online solitaire, chess, Wordle, or any other puzzle game. You need it to be short so it doesn’t take up too much time, yet tricky enough to set your brain whirring.
Set social media limits
Much like there’s no denying the mental health benefits of exercise, you can’t deny that social media is a pain on your mental well-being. Doomscrolling has taken over all of us, and we’ve all felt the sensation of slipping deeper and deeper into a dark mental place by using social media.
While spending a bit of time on social media can be good, it’s generally something you should try to avoid – particularly if you have pre-existing mental health problems. Look into downloading an app that helps you manage your screen time and spend fewer minutes on social media.
Spend some time outside
What will you do with all the spare time you aren’t spending scrolling through social media platforms? Go for a walk! Spend some time outside every day (within reason) and rejoice in the sights and sounds of nature. There’s something eternally relaxing about breathing fresh air and feeling the sun on your face. Walking is a great form of exercise too, so you nail two things in one go.
Set time aside for a fun hobby
Make time to pursue a hobby that makes you happy. Life is better when you do things that put a smile on your face, so come up with some type of hobby that’s easy for you to commit to.
Simple ideas include:
- Reading
- Drawing
- Birdwatching
- Nail art
- Playing a musical instrument
Yes, you could even throw exercise into the mix if it’s something you truly enjoy doing. Setting time aside to go to the gym or attend an exercise class is a great way to stay physically active while doing a hobby you love.
Make sure you sleep well each night
Your mental health will always suffer if you’re not sleeping well every night. Sleep helps to regulate your body, and tiredness leads to the secretion of certain hormones. There’s a clear link between people who don’t sleep well and people with ongoing mental health concerns.
A lack of sleep breeds stress, and stress leads to anxiety and other problems. Tackle things by giving yourself a proper sleep schedule so you try to lie your head down at around the same time every evening. As mentioned earlier, meditation helps with this as it relaxes your brain and makes it easier to drift off. If you’re sleeping well every night, you’re starting each day with less stress.
Give your days a proper routine
Take the tips in this guide and use them to create a proper daily routine. That’s the final daily lifestyle habit that helps you improve your mental health. Bringing structure to your days benefits you in more ways than you can fathom. It’s very hard to cope with the mental stressors in life when each day feels like a whirlwind and you’re just being flung around with no sense of direction.
A routine means you wake up every morning and have a rough idea of what you’re going to do. It’s easier to digest each day into manageable chunks – and you give yourself things to look forward to. Try it out and witness the improvements in your mental health.
