It’s easy to look at prioritizing your mental health as just going to see a therapist routinely for an hour. While it’s a key commitment and an important part of mental healthcare, it’s just one piece of the puzzle.
The reality is that there are many things that you can do to benefit your mental health and wellbeing every day.
Taken together, these pieces can mean a lifestyle that is supportive of your mental health needs. That way you don’t have to start at a deficit when you really do need support.
So, what works best?
Here are five powerful strategies for easing anxiety and maintaining your mental health in your everyday life.
1. Exercise and Nutrition
Your health, both mentally and physically, starts with exercise and nutrition. Without these two components, it’s very difficult to take care of your mental health. Your mind actually needs exercise. When you exercise your body releases endorphins. Endorphins are mood enhancers and can help when it comes to managing stress, anxiety, or even depression. Also, if you eat foods that have little nutritional value, you won’t be getting the fuel your body and mind need.
2. Focus on What You Have Versus What You Don’t
Another powerful strategy for supporting your mental health is focusing on what you have versus what you don’t have. Appreciate things in your life that support your mental health, and cherish them. For instance, let’s say that you have a job, but it’s not your ideal job. In fact, you don’t really like your work. Addressing that problem is a whole separate issue! However, are there ways that you can appreciate what you do have? For instance, your job provides a stable income that allows you to pay the bills, have a roof over your head, etc. Many people are unemployed, and not as fortunate. This mindset helps to turn the tables on toxic negative thinking that only brings you down.
3. Do Things That Engage Your Mind and Excite Your Wonder
Pursuing activities that you enjoy and find interesting definitely contributes to your mental health. These are meaningful activities. In fact, you may even use them to define who you are. For example:
- Gardening
- Creating art.
- Writing
- Pursuing a sport.
- Tinkering on your car.
- Woodworking
- Playing music.
- Building models.
- Hiking
You name it, there’s an activity for you. These and similar pursuits allow for two things. For one, they require that you use your body to engage in the activity. Even crocheting requires that you use your hands! Second, they engage your mind. Woodworking requires focus and attention. All add joy and wonder to your life, which in turn contributes to your mental health.
4. Practicing Breathing and Mindfulness Skills
Breathing and mindfulness skills are very useful for your overall mental health. They require from you and increased awareness of your body. How does it respond to stress? What do you do to cope with that response? Many don’t even make the connection with how their physical responses to stress affect their mental health. By practicing breathing and mindfulness skills you learn how to stay in control, to cope with stress, which in turn helps you stay in a healthy mindset.
5. Finding Connection with Other People
Finally, what helps to keep you in a healthy state of mind are the connections that you make with other people in your life. After isolating through the pandemic, we know that now more than ever. These connections include:
- Family
- Friends
- Coworkers
- Clubs and groups that you belong to.
Ultimately, these are people who are not just simply nice or familiar. They support and reinforce that you are valued, accepted, trusted, etc. Feeling that you belong is so important for maintaining your mental health.
These strategies all sound ideal, but making changes can be difficult. That’s why it’s useful to start with one and work on that until you have established the strategy in your life. Don’t hesitate to ask for help. Counseling can be a great resource for making these changes, soothe anxiety and protect your mental health.
