Mental health is something a lot of people refrain from talking about, even though it affects nearly everyone’s lives at some point. This is why I came up with this list of Instant Changes To Your Daily Life To Improve Your Mental Health that anyone could benefit from!
Our phones have truly become an extension of ourselves for both some good and not so god reasons. A lot of times we become so consumed on what is on our phones that we can get disconnected with reality, which can easily contribute to our mental health. Many people spend so much time on social media or interpreting a text that we often begin to compare our lives to other people’s and lose touch of who we are. One instant change to your daily routine you can make to improve all aspects of your mental health is to stop checking your phone first thing in the morning. When you wake up you should be able to take a minute to yourself to relax, grab some water, wash your face and brush your teeth before turning to your phone to see anything you missed overnight. I promise this will help you feel much more calm and collected and prevent any anxiety that can come with staring at a screen. There are several proven studies to why checking your phone first thing is not the move, such as how it can distract you from the when you first wake up and set the tone for the rest of the day.
Meditating may seem like a simple task that doesn’t really have many benefits at first, yet it is actually super helpful for those who may be struggling with mental health. Meditation is known to produce a very relaxed state of mind and helps relieves any feelings of anxiety, depression, stress, or lack of focus. When you meditate you eliminate all those various thoughts crowding your mind at once that can seem super overbearing at times, leading to feelings of stress. Instead of stressing out you are able to take a minute to recollect your thoughts by focusing on just your breathing. To begin your meditation, you can either do it on your own with some calming music in the back, or follow a video on YouTube for some guiding. You want to feel super relaxed so maybe try lighting some candles around you and choose a spot that is clean and has enough room for you to sit. Once you are comfortable, start to focus on your breath and center your breathing in one focus of the body such as your belly, chest, or nose. If your mind starts to wander, notice it, then return to your breathing to clear the mind. This practice doesn’t have to be long, just 5-10 minutes in the beginning of your day to help clear your head of negative thoughts or things you are stressing over. After getting in touch with your mind, I assure you you’ll begin to start thinking more clearly!
Something I’ve witnessed first hand and seen from others is the struggle of being alone. Depression comes in all sorts of forms, including some people preferring to be left alone all the time. However, a cause for depression for others can be how they feel they have too much time on their hands being alone. Seeing other people out and about with friends can be difficult when you are at a state of feeling hopeless, which is why the best thing you can do is accept being alone. When some people are struggling with mental health, the last thing they want to do is appear alone out in public as they feel they could be judged. This is so far from the truth though because doing things alone is actually very good for your well being! Some of my favorite things to do alone include going to a local cozy coffee shop to get some work done or just enjoy a coffee or going shopping- whether it be for food, clothing, etc. When you go out alone to complete your daily tasks it feels great since you are in charge and can really do whatever you want. No one will tell you what to do or how to live your life, it’s all up to you!
When people first hear they should start journaling as a way to help improve their mental health they tend to ask why since they aren’t a writer. Yet, the thing about journaling for yourself is that no one will ever see what you write, allowing you to be as vulnerable and honest as you can. There is something so valuable about getting your thoughts down on paper, whether you’re thinking positively or negatively. If you are struggling with anxiety, depression, or stress, try journalling a little each morning or before you go to bed. Don’t worry, this doesn’t have to be an essay, you can just jot down a couple of thoughts or feelings you’ve been experiencing. If you can’t think of anything to write, one of the best ways to help change a negative mindset is to write a list of your goals. You can start by writing down how you are feeling currently, how you want to feel/ what your goals are, then brainstorm ways of what needs to be done to get to your dream state of mind. Journalling is one of the best ways to really come to terms with your negative emotions and work on letting them go. Another journaling idea is to write down whatever is bringing you anger or sadness at the moment, then crumple it up and throw it out. This is a great method of release that can feel really good afterwords and lead you on the track to getting some clarity.
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