Life gets complicated from time to time. And when problems arise in one facet of your life, it is possible for stress and anxiety to negatively affect other parts of your daily routine. People with chronic mental health concerns and individuals who are going though addiction treatment may find it particularly challenging to maintain a positive outlook. However, it is possible to give yourself a mental health boost each day. Here are a few strategies you can employ to keep your emotions under control, stay positive, and maintain your mental clarity.
Be Social
Being social doesn’t always mean that you have to go out to a bar and strike up a conversation with strangers. However, connecting with another person whether it’s a friend or family member can be a really great way to boost your mental health instantly. A face-to-face conversation with someone is always best, but even calling a loved one on the phone for a little bit can really improve your mood. If you feel like your mental health is declining, start making your social connections with people more of a priority.
Even if you have a busy schedule, try to in some time during the week to chat with someone you care about. A simple phone call with a family member or love interest can help you feel a whole lot better. If you have a lot going on and feel overwhelmed, this can be a time to vent to a trusted friend, get great advice, and distract yourself from all of the craziness. And while you’re at it, give your grandmom a call and let her tell you all of the drama that’s going on in her retirement community.
Get Some Exercise
You’ve probably heard it time and time again, but exercise is a great way to improve your mental health. This is especially true if you spend most of your time at school or work sitting down. Even something as quick and easy as going for a walk gets your body moving just enough to release some of those happy brain chemicals. Walking is also a great way to enjoy other things that relax you, like listening to music or an interesting audiobook.
If you aren’t a fan of walking and don’t want to just go to the gym, you can look into exercise options that are more out of the box. For example, swimming is a really great way to get your whole body moving, and there are lots of public pools that allow people to come in and swim a few laps. You could also join a recreational sports team, which is a great way to exercise and meet new people at the same time.
Find New Ways To Relax
When you hear the phrases “relaxation” and “mental health” in the same sentence, do you think of meditation? Many people do. Meditation may contribute to a multitude of benefits for your mind and body. Some of these include:
- Gaining a new perspective on an issue
- Managing stress in a healthy way
- Increasing your self-awareness
- Improving your patience
- Lowering your heart rate
- Increasing your focus
- Reducing your negative emotions
While meditation is great, it can be a really difficult skill to master if you have issues with emotional regulation. However, there are other practices that you can try to get calm and center yourself. For example, a variety of muscle relaxation, stretching and breathing exercises may provide similar benefits to meditation. Best of all, some of these techniques can be used to reduce your anxiety in stressful public settings without anyone else noticing what you are doing.
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Veronica Davis is a writer, blogger, and legal assistant operating out of the greater Philadelphia area.
