Mental health can seem almost impossible to manage. Although in my eyes, it is all about managing it well and taking care of yourself. Yes, you are going to have bad days, but doing these little things every day or so can really help improve your mood, help you figure out how to manage your mental health, and keep you on track.
The various tips I’ve listed below are tips that have worked for me in the past and have really helped me learn more about myself and helped me drastically improve throughout my mental health journey.
Tip #1: Meditation
Meditation is a good way to take a break from your thoughts and focus on the present. When I first started it, I felt discouraged because I didn’t see instant results. Although it takes a couple times of doing it to really feel the effects. I have a meditation playlist on YouTube that has a variety of videos with different lengths that deal with different types of situations: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLd11dG2mEAHQjGPiSFwe2UUiqQ3CVyHz4. My tips for meditation is to be patient, be mindful, and appreciate the process.
Tip #2: Journaling
It can seem hard to write a journal entry every day, but you don’t have to! There are a lot of different types of journaling, you just have to find what’s right for you. You can purchase a journal and simply write about your day. You can do it in the form of bullets, paragraphs, or just word vomit. Whatever works best for you, and of course you can try out these various methods. Or if you don’t have the time, you can do an online journal (most of them are password protected)! Some of my recommended online journals are Day One and Daylio (both available on the App Store).
Tip #3: Exercise
As grueling as it can be, it is scientifically proven that frequent exercise improves mental health! With my personal experience, running has helped me a lot. I recommend running with a group of friends or a best friend! It makes the experience a lot more enjoyable. Plus running outside gives you a chance to appreciate nature and appreciate where you live! And the runner’s high makes it all worth it. It’s tough at first, but then you build up endurance and feel proud of yourself, therefore bettering your mental health.
But if you really don’t like running, you can find many types of fun physical activity, such as taking a hike, kayaking, taking a dance class, etc.
Tip #4: Talk to someone.
I know it can be hard to open about your personal mental health issues, but bottling it up won’t do you any good either. You can only get better if you accept help. I used to ignore this fact until I finally asked for help and got so much better. If you are not ready to go to a professional, just talking to some close, trusted friends may help. They can give you a different perspective on the situation, which may help you realize what you need to do in order to get better.
Tip #5: Write down things you are grateful for.
It is such a simple task to just write down three or five things that you are grateful for every day. It can be as big as being grateful for family or as small as being grateful for a delicious sandwich you ate that day. Doing this makes you more grateful for the life you have, instead of wishing you didn’t have the life you have. You really start to see your life in a more positive light by doing this.
I hope some or all of these five tips will help you in your mental health journey! Just remember that the process is not linear, but making progress is possible.