Improving your mental health should be something you work on daily. It affects every aspect of your life. Maintaining a positive mental state can be difficult without practice. Here are a few surprising things you can do to reach your optimum mental health.
1. Start Volunteering
Volunteering is obviously good for others. However, did you know it has proven benefits for the volunteer as well? According to Grow Ensemble, giving back reduces stress and anxiety and can boost your overall happiness. Look around your area for volunteer options and try to make giving back part of your monthly schedule.
2. Make a Big Life Change
Sometimes you need a major reset to improve your life. For example, a career change can have a significant impact, especially if you struggle with a toxic work environment.
You could go back to school online and earn a degree in something you enjoy while continuing to work and tend to your personal obligations — take a look at continuing your education. With the right online program, you can fit in earning a degree on your timeline.
Moving can be another big change to consider. Be sure that the market conditions are favourable wherever you search for a house. You don’t want to create more anxiety for yourself by making a poor purchase.
3. Practice Breathing Techniques
Try using breathing techniques to help you work through stressful situations. For example, breathwork is a strategy to help unlock your body’s natural feelings and breathe through the things that cause you mental and emotional distress. Breathing is a simple, risk-free way to work on healing your inner self.
4. Get Organised
Relieve stress by getting more organised. Start by cleaning and decluttering your home. A minimalistic home induces calm and creates a healing atmosphere. If the thought of reorganising everything is too overwhelming, start with one room at a time and work your way through the house. Be sure to create a space where you can relax.
Adding indoor plants to your space can be a great way to enhance your environment. They can add the beauty of nature while purifying the air. Plus, online resources make caring for your plants easy.
5. Take Advantage of Remote Work
If you have the opportunity to work from home, take advantage of it. Work is such a consuming part of life that you occasionally need a change in your work environment. Working from home gets rid of commute time and allows you to skip getting ready in the morning. You can sleep in a little longer and spend more time with your family. You also have the opportunity to prepare better meals and save a little money.
If your employer doesn’t offer remote work, perhaps it’s time to step out on your own. Establishing a company could be the first step in becoming your own boss. You can create a business that offers you the flexibility to work from home, allowing you more opportunities to connect with your family.
6. Step Out of Your Comfort Zone
Boredom is a common trigger for mental health struggles. When you feel yourself becoming discontented with life, think about stepping outside of your comfort zone. It can be as simple as going to a movie alone or as major as picking up and moving to a new city.
7. Disconnect From the Grid
Turn off all your electronics for one day and see where that takes you mentally. Sometimes being so connected to everything in the world can cause far more stress than it does good. Cut off your phone and computer and just relax with a good book. Another option is to use a Walk Score map to plot out daily walks. Turning off your phone and spending time outdoors is a boon to your mental health.
8. Buy a Colouring Book
If you want a simple, fun escape, purchase a colouring book. When you feel the need to do something creative that allows you to mentally check out, start colouring. It could eventually evolve into more creative pastimes.
Find Your Own Path to Mental Health
The path to mental health improvement is rarely a straight incline. You may come across obstacles and face difficulties that can slow down your journey. The important thing to remember is to get right back on track when you fall behind and be kind to yourself along the way.
Contributor: Cheryl Conklin
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