Mental Health Tips - Keeping Stress at Bay

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from our childhood to adolescence and adulthood. Poor mental health affects your work, relationships, and sense of self. It also affects your physical health. A mentally healthy person is one who realizes their own abilities, can cope with the everyday stresses of life, can work productively, and actively contribute to society. Our mental health is as important as our physical health, but we focus much more on our physical health. Below are the best mental health tips for ensuring a healthy mind and body.

1. Get plenty of sleep

Sleep is very important for mental health. However many of us do not sleep enough. We spend too much time working or stay up watching TV or scrolling through social media. When you are sleeping your body recharges and repairs itself. If you regularly do not get enough sleep you will feel more stressed, anxious, or depressed. How much sleep a person needs depends on their body. For some 6 hours is enough while for others 9 hours is ideal. It is important to stop using your phone, tablet, laptop, and TV at least an hour before you go to sleep. The blue light that comes from these devices makes it difficult to fall asleep. Instead you can read a book or write in a journal.

2. Eat well

Eating junk food is fun but it is bad for both our physical and mental health. If you do not eat a balanced diet you will have deficiencies. Having a deficiency will give you a low mood and make you feel less energetic. One of the best tips to manage anxiety is also to consume less sugary foods, alcohol, and coffee. They will make you much more stressed and anxious.

3. Exercise

Exercising is an important mental stress relief tip and a tips for good mental health. Being active releases chemicals such as endorphins in your brain which improve your mood. Exercising helps alleviate stress, anxiety, and low moods. It gives you a sense of achievement. You don’t need to go to the gym or run a marathon. There are many different ways to exercise. The key is to find a way that you enjoy. Dancing, yoga, and walking are all ways of exercising.

4. Get enough sunlight

We forget how important getting enough sun is as these days, we spend all of our time inside our homes and rarely go out. Sunlight is a great source of vitamin D. Vitamin D is very important for our bodies and brains. It helps our brains release chemicals which improve our mood such as endorphins and serotonin. It’s important to try and go out in the sun whenever you can. 30 minutes to 2 hours in the winter is ideal. However, you must remember to wear sunscreen and a hat to avoid sunburn when you go out.

5. Do something you enjoy

In our everyday lives filled with work and responsibilities we forget to spend time engaging in activities that we enjoy. For some of us it is painting while for others it could be watching old films or baking. It’s important to set aside time for such activities so that we have other accomplishments than just our jobs.

6. Effectively manage stress

One of the most important ways to prevent mental illnesses is to effectively manage stress. Stress is unavoidable, but knowing what triggers your stress and how to cope with it can do wonders for your mental health. Exercising, eating healthy, and doing things you love are all part of managing stress. Meditation and yoga can be helpful as well. Sleeping well and managing stress are crucial mental health tips for students. The pressures in school and college can be extremely stressful. Students must form healthy stress management techniques so their mental health does not deteriorate.

7. Connect with others

Humans are social creatures. Whether you are an introvert or an extrovert you need to have social contact with other people. Make an effort to spend time with your close friends and family. If you cannot meet in person, try talking on the phone or through video call.

8. Avoid alcohol, smoking, and drugs

A common belief is that consuming alcohol and drugs, and smoking makes a person calmer and helps manage stress. However, in reality alcohol, smoking, and drugs increase stress and anxiety levels. When you have a few drinks, it is likely that at first you will feel good, but the next day you will feel anxious and depressed and find it hard to concentrate. Nicotine adversely affects your heart, reproductive system and increases anxiety and tension. Withdrawal from drugs can cause low moods and anxiety.

9. Do things for others

When you help someone else it is good for them, and it is good for you too. Doing a good deed increases your self-esteem. Holding the door open for someone, providing a poor person with food, and donating money are all ways you can help.

10. Ask for help

If all the mental health advice doesn’t work, it may be a sign that you need professional help. There is no shame in asking for mental health support. At some point in their life everyone goes through a tough time. If you feel the need you can speak to a psychologist. They are there to listen to you without judgment and help you feel mentally fit again. Paras Hospital is the best hospital in Delhi/NCR for mental health help.

Follow Us On Instagram