Whether you’ve been living with mental health problems or you’re noticing that you’re not feeling yourself lately, it’s important to do as much as you can when it comes to your own physical and mental wellbeing. If you’re looking for new ways to look after your mental health, you’ve come to the right place.
There are lots of ways in which you can ensure you’re doing all that you can. From seeking advice from a professional to spending time with those that you love, the more you’re doing the better. With that in mind, here are 14 ways to look after your wellbeing:Â
Ensure You’re Getting Enough Sleep
When it comes to your wellbeing, sleep is incredibly important. Whether you work long hours or you simply need to get some rest, developing a regular sleeping schedule is something everyone needs to work on. Although it may be difficult, there are different ways for you to improve your sleeping pattern:
- Try to stick to the same sleep schedule every day
- Sleep on a comfortable mattress
- Consider creating a relaxing bedtime routine
- Using lavender pillow sprays to help you relax
- Avoid heavy meals and caffeinated drinks at least an hour before you sleep
- Try to avoid naps if you can
Although it can be hard to establish a good sleeping pattern, it’s definitely an important factor when it comes to your mental health.
Speak To A Professional If You Need Help
One of the most important things you can do when it comes to looking after your wellbeing is to ensure you’re seeing a professional if you think you need help. Although you may not be able to see the warning signs right away if you think that you need to address the way in which you’re feeling it’s always best to speak to someone who knows what they’re talking about.
Whether that means going to see a doctor or booking a couple of sessions with a therapist, the more honest you’re being with people the easier it will be to diagnose the things you may be experiencing. It may be scary, but it’s a great step to take when it comes to recovering. For a guide to speaking to your doctor about your mental health, you can visit this site here.
Drink Lots Of Water And Eat Well
While you don’t have to go on a strict calorie-counting diet, you need to ensure you’re drinking lots of water and eating well. In most cases, this simply means listening to your body. Whether that means eating carbs in order to fuel your body or having eating fruit when you need a pick me up, intuitive eating is a great way to look after your physical health and in turn, your mental health. For more information when it comes to intuitive eating, you can visit this site here.
Invest Time In Your Relationships
Another important thing to think about when it comes to your mental health is your relationships, as you need to be sure you’re investing time into the ones that mean the most to you. Whether this is with your partner, your family, or your friends, those that have a positive impact in your life are definitely worth investing in. Even if you’re not able to see each other all the time, an emotional support network is essential for those focussing on their wellbeing.
Spend Time Outside
Although you may not feel like it makes a lot of difference, spending time outside can do you the world of good when it comes to your wellbeing. From going for a walk in the park to sitting in the sun with your friends, a bit of vitamin D and fresh air is sometimes all you need to make a bad day that little bit better. Although it’s not going to be the solution to all of your problems, there’s nothing wrong with a little serotonin boost.
Practice Self-Care As Often As You Can
Self-care is incredibly important and something that everyone should be making time for each and every day. Whether that means running yourself a hot bath after you’ve finished a long day of work or going for a walk in order to start your day, self-care looks different for absolutely everyone.
If you’re unsure how to make the time or self-care, start by scheduling in some ‘me time’ once a week. As time goes on, make sure you’re doing this every single day, remembering that self-care doesn’t always need to be planned in advance. It’s okay to cancel plans and so something for yourself every once in a while.
Consider An Emotional Support AnimalÂ
Although they’re not for everyone, emotional support animals are a great way to look after your wellbeing. Whether they’re there to provide companionship or to help ease your anxiety, emotional support animals have been proven to be a great relief when it comes to numerous mental health conditions.
For more information when it comes to buying and owning an emotional support dog, you can visit this site here. I also have written pieces about therapy dogs.
Rest If You Need To
When you feel like everything is a bit too much and you’re having a bad mental health day, you need to ensure you’re taking the time to rest. Whether this means taking a mental health day from work or taking some time away from your day-to-day life, it’s important you’re resting as much as you possibly can.
For some, it can be incredibly hard to take a break, but often those are the ones that need it the most. If you think you’re going to struggle, it may be worth discussing with a professional why you feel you need to take a break first.
Keep A Daily JournalÂ
Another great way to look after your wellbeing is to keep a journal where you write down all of your thoughts. If you feel that you can’t talk to your friends and family about how you may be feeling, writing everything down is a great alternative. Whether you’re writing down your happy thoughts or things that may have bothered you throughout the day, you may be surprised at the difference it can make.
Try Out New Hobbies
If you find that you have a lot of spare time and that you don’t know how to fill it, finding new hobbies is always a great place to start. Although you may not know where to begin, the beauty of trying to find a hobby you enjoy is that you get to try out lots of different options.
Whether that means doing something creative or learning a new sport, there are lots of things for you to choose from. If you find you’re really starting to enjoy something, that’s when you can start to invest more and more into your new hobby.
Just a few weeks ago, Caleb bought me golf clubs and started teaching me! We’ve only gone a handful of times but I am already so determined to get better before the summer ends!
Spend Time With People That Make You Happy
Another great way to look after your wellbeing is to make sure you’re spending time with people that make you happy. Surrounding yourself with negative people is never a good idea so to help, ensuring you spend as much time as you can with the people you love with help. Whether that means going for dinner and a drink with your friends, or spending the afternoon with your family, it will definitely be time well spent.
Do The Things That You Love
On a similar note, you also need to ensure you’re spending as much time as you can doing the things you love. Whether this means traveling as often as you can or spending time at home, you will always be able to find comfort in the things that you love to do. It’s helpful to find what brings you joy and make it nonnegotiable.
I try to do at least one thing that brings me joy every day. It can be as simple as eating a piece of dark chocolate, taking a second walk with the dogs, propagating a houseplant, or helping Caleb cook dinner.
Try To Do Something That You Wouldn’t Usually Do
If you’re looking for something a little bit different, you may want to consider pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and trying something you wouldn’t usually do. This could be going on the trip of a lifetime or starting your own business venture, but whatever it is, may surprise you.
Break Free From Your Daily Routine
Finally, you may want to consider breaking free from your daily routine.
Whether this means simply switching up your lunch or reconsidering your career choices, there are lots of things you can change about your life if they’re not making you happy. Of course, it’s important to bear in mind that your happiness is not as simple as changing the things you don’t like, and in most cases, it comes down to much more than that.
With lots of ways for you to start looking after your mental health and wellbeing, you can be sure you’re doing all that you can to put yourself first. It’s important to remember, however, that it’s okay to have bad days. What else do you need to remember when it comes to your mental health? Did I miss anything? Let me know your thoughts and ideas in the comments section below.