Feeling blue? Struggling with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, anger, loneliness or OCD?
You’re not alone- approximately 1 in 4 people experience a mental health problem in the UK every year.
That’s why, this World Mental Health Day 2021, we’ve put together some quirky tips that can help you take control of your health, boost your mood and feel better.
1. Go off grid
Did you know that having a digital detox can help boost your mood and help ease depression?
The constant barrage of bad news, negativity and hate that is often spread online is enough to get anybody down.
Turn your smart phone off for the day. Disconnect from alerts. Don’t look at your emails.
You will be amazed at how liberating it is!
2. Take the first step
By setting yourself goals and taking the first step towards achieving them, you will feel more positive about the future. It allows you to focus on what is important in your life and feel a real sense of achievement as you make it happen.
What would you like to improve in your life? How could you make this happen?
3. Try something new
Break out of your comfort zone and try something new. This will help you push your personal growth forward, break through any issues of anxiety or depression and perhaps even discover adventure and excitement. You’ll also become braver and more resilient in the process. What have you always wanted to try but never got around to?
4. Laugh (or smile)
Although smiling or laughing might feel like the last thing you want to do when you’re dealing with mental health issues, it can make a dramatic difference to how you feel.
Smiling allows your brain to release more of those brain chemicals like dopamine, serotonin and endorphins that boost your mood and help fight off stress. Why not smile at a stranger, watch a comedy show or even just smile at yourself. It all helps.
5. Cuddle up with a pet
When you spend time with your furry friend you’ll boost levels of the happiness hormone, oxytocin and reduce your stress levels. If you don’t have a pet of your own, why not ask a friend who does or get involved with a local animal rescue project?
6. Dance!
Dancing provides a whole range of benefits for your mental and physical health and can help transform how you feel. Because it releases dopamine and serotonin, it can help you feel great. It’s also a lot of fun and can improve your body image, mood and quality of life as well as strengthening your cognitive skills and social connections.
7. Get stuck into some cleaning
Cleaning is a great form of therapy that can help reduce stress and anxiety and help you feel a real sense of achievement. Choose a small area of your house to focus on and you’ll soon have a clean and relaxing space you can enjoy.
8. Get creative
Creativity will improve your sense of wellbeing and help treat mental health struggles. Giving yourself a channel for self-expression can help release any pent-up emotions and soothe your soul.
Depending on the creative art you choose, it can also give you a profound sense of achievement and growth. Why not try your hand at knitting, painting or creative writing to see how it helps?
9. Be more sociable
Friends can provide great support, especially when you are going through tough times or simply need to relax, so make time to see them regularly.
You could go to the gym or for a run with a partner, sit and catch up over your morning coffee, arrange a healthy potluck meal or even just pick up the phone for a chat.
10. Write it all down
Releasing difficult thoughts and emotions is essential if you want to keep your mental health in check so why not start a daily journaling practice?
Simply spend 10 minutes or so each day to write about your day, including three things you are grateful for and three things you have achieved. You’ll soon notice a difference in how you feel.
Sometimes you just need to take a few baby steps to start feeling better about yourself and the world around you. We know that dealing with mental health issues takes more than what we have outlined above but we all need to start somewhere. These are things that we all can do so why not give them a try?
