8 Tips for Better Mental Health

[humble3d]

8 Tips for Better Mental Health

When your mind is in a good place, your body and your life tend to follow. You have more energy. Your body feels better. And happy moments feel even happier. Incorporate these eight simple strategies into your daily routine. Doing so can help you cope with problems and live life to its fullest.

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1. Think Like an Optimist.

Focusing on the positive can improve your mood—but it takes practice. Keeping a gratitude journal is one way to train your brain to think about things in a positive light. Write down anything you see, think or feel that makes you happy, big or small. In tough situations, ask yourself what you’ve learned from the experience or how it helped you grow as a person.

2. Silence Your Inner Critic.

Do the voices in your head tell you that you’re not good enough? When you catch yourself repeating negative thoughts, stop for a second to question them. Many negative thoughts about yourself aren’t true. For example, if you’re thinking “I’m a bad mother” because you spoke harshly to your child, remember all the times you’ve been nurturing and supportive.

3. Fight the Right Way.

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All couples have disagreements. Research shows it’s how you deal with your disagreements that really matters. Avoid yelling, walking away, or making personal attacks. Instead, try to understand your partner’s perspective. Even when you’re arguing, make sure to speak kindly and treat the other person with respect.

4. Make Peace With Your Body.

Don’t obsess over an “ideal” body. Instead, think of what your body can do and what it has helped you achieve. Have you finished a 5K? Given birth? Toured a city on foot? Helped a friend move? These are all amazing things that your body has allowed you to do.

5. Move Every Day.

Research shows that exercise can help relieve anxiety and depression symptoms. When you exercise, your body releases mood-boosting chemicals like endorphins and serotonin. So go ahead and sign up for that aerobics, yoga, or tennis class. And instead of driving to the store, ride a bike or walk.

6. Attack Stress Head On.

When you know what’s causing you trouble, you can think of solutions. Perhaps you need to ask for help with a big project. You may also realize you’re trying to do too much and you should let some responsibilities go. Identify your stressors, then reach out to a family member, friend, or coworker for support when you need it.

7. Book Some “Me Time.”

Between work responsibilities and family commitments and everything in between, it’s easy to feel pulled in a million different directions. Don’t feel guilty about taking time for yourself. Take at least 15 minutes each day to indulge in something you enjoy or find relaxing, like a good book or a warm bath.

8. Catch Your Zzzs.

A solid night’s sleep helps you feel your best. If you have trouble falling asleep, try to do the same things every night in the hour or two before bed. This ritual lets your body know that it’s time to sleep. A small snack, a cup of tea, and a shower are all good pre-bedtime activities. Keeping a consistent bed time without varying more than hour either way is helpful too.

http://www.healthgrades.com/right-care/mental-health-and-behavior/8-tips-for-better-mental-health?cid=11_rss2&refurl=http%3A%2F%2Fhosted.ap.org%2Fdynamic%2Fstories%2FC%2FCLIMATE_COUNTDOWN%3FSITE%3DAP&cb=ap

[alaindc]

1. not enough

2. not satisfied enough about my work, not good enough, not prety enough

3. mostly ok

4. Too big

5. i move, but not enough (health problem)

6. yes, and no, depend

7. me time? no, everyone before myself

8. can't have any solid sleep (pain)

So...

I need to work on...a lot of things...