- Start your day off with a nutritional breakfast
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day so having a healthy breakfast helps start the day off right. It not only improves concentration it also makes you think and feel more alert. Eating an unhealthy diet leads to tiredness and can affect the choices you make.
- Find a hobby
Hobbies are a good way to help clear your mind. You are less likely to struggle from stress and low mood if you have a hobby you enjoy. Hobbies create an outlet for stress whether that be from work or normal day to day chores. When you enjoy a hobby, it gives you a sense of pleasure as well as achievement.
- Plan a getaway/holiday
Planning a little get away or holiday will give you something to look forward to along with distracting your brain giving it something to concentrate on. Also going away helps calm you and releases stress. It gives your mind time to heal when getting away from things that cause stress.
- Socialise with family and friends
Socialising eases feelings of loneliness in addition to improving your mood. If you want to improve your memory skills, socialising is great for that too. As well as making you feel happy it gives you an opportunity to confide in them and tell them any worries or struggles you may have. It is very good for your mental health to speak and not bottle up any feeling you have.
- Allow yourself to laugh
Laughing helps reduce anxiety and improves mood. Things like watching a comedy film or spending time with people who make you laugh can decrease stress hormones. Laughing can trigger the body’s natural feel-good chemicals.
- Take a relaxing bath
Baths are good for physical health but also good for mental health. Taking time out for a long soak in the bath not only helps people sleep better but it also gives you an escape from everyday stresses. It allows you to relax and release stress and anxiety. You could try adding things like chamomile or lavender. Chamomile may help calm the mind and reduce anxiety. Lavender is good for improving sleep. Also lighting a candle creates a calming environment.
- Colouring
Grab a colouring book and some pens as colouring reduces stress and anxiety. It reduces your thoughts and gives your mind time to rest after a long stressful day. For many people boredom is something that triggers thoughts that lead to anxiety. So, colouring allows you to give your attention to something other than your thoughts.
- Vitamin D
Vitamin D is known to balance out mood and reduce depression. Get outside and let your skin soak up that vitamin D from the sun. Alternatively in winter months you can take vitamin D supplements.
- Go for a walk
Walking is a good way to get physical exercises as well as improving blood flow to the brain. It helps lessen symptoms of depression and anxiety. Walking and getting fresh air leads to clearer minds and reduces stress. It also increases your energy levels and boosts mood.
- Plan your day
Planning your day gives you a sense of control over how your day is going to go. Things like making a to do list and ticking it off as you go. You could even set out your clothes the day before making it easier for you to get ready in the morning. Planning helps you stay focused and organised and creates healthy habits. You will most likely sleep better knowing you have planned the day ahead.
- Write it down
Have a journal or diary that way you can write down all your fears and worries. Writing down your feelings gets it out of your head so you don’t feel like you’re bottling it up. Writing it all down allows you to keep track of any triggers causing anxiety and learn ways you can overcome them.
- Adventures
Try going out for adventures whether it be a trip to a zoo and see the animals or go to your favourite park. Visiting calm environments reduces anger, stress and fear. Exposing yourself to nature lifts mood and your overall happiness. Nature also improves your concentration and memory.
- Read a book
Find a relaxing space and grab a book. Reading improves sleep quality and is known to reduce stress. Not only that but it increases memory skills and your creative skills. Reading doesn’t have to be at home; you can go to a library or even take your book to the park and read while taking in the views from nature.
- Get crafty
Open up your imagination and involve your crafty side. Things like knitting has the potential to fight depression. Joining craft classes may help gaining friends and help with feelings of loneliness. Craft also helps with your anxiety. Things like knitting, pottery, baking and even gardening. All of these and many more could help you.
- Keep active
Exercise is a very important step in not only looking after your physical health but also your mental health. Getting outside for a jog or going for a run these have great benefits for keeping your mental health balanced. Although you don’t have to go outside you can join online exercise classes and do it in the comfort of your home.
- Drink enough
Keeping hydrated has shown to improve mental health. Drinking enough water can decrease the risk of anxiety and depression. Dehydration can lead to an unhealthy mental state. Also drinking water helps you feel calm and can actually make you feel happier.
- Give to others
Giving to others and helping other people can lead to their happiness increasing, but not only that it can make you feel happier too. Helping others for example volunteering at homeless shelters can give you a sense of belonging and reduce feelings of loneliness. It also boosts your confidence and your overall self-worth.
