Tips for Maintaining Good Mental Health

Taken from the National Institute of Mental Health.

1. Taking care of your body is also taking care of your mind.

• • Eat healthy, regular meals and stay hydrated. Having enough water and a healthy diet can help maintain a healthy mind, improving focus and energy levels. Be aware of how caffeine, alcohol, and foods high in fat and sugar impact you. Some people benefit from decreasing consumption of these.
  • Rest. Having a regular sleep schedule and ensuring you get enough quality sleep is a key component of mental health. Taking breaks throughout the day is another way to help increase your productivity.
  • Exercise regularly. Exercise releases endorphins that help to reduce stress. While 30 minutes of walking a day is recommended, small amounts of exercise add up, so don’t be discouraged if you can’t do 30 minutes all at once.

2. Adopt habits that improve your mentality and feelings of well-being.

• • Challenge your mind. Learning new skills and trying new activities helps to keep your mind active and engaged in life.
    Find what relaxes you. Explore meditation, breathing exercises, or muscle relaxation techniques. Take time to participate in hobbies that you enjoy, such as listening to music, reading, spending time in nature, or other activities.
  • Find what relaxes you. Explore meditation, breathing exercises, or muscle relaxation techniques. Take time to participate in hobbies that you enjoy, such as listening to music, reading, spending time in nature, or other activities.
  • Practice gratitude. Find things each day that you are grateful for, even if they are small. Make sure to be specific when you identify the things you are grateful for. Some people find it helpful to start a gratitude journal.
  • Cultivate positive thinking. Identify and challenge your negative and unhelpful thoughts. Mindfulness can also help reduce judging and comparing, which often lead to difficult or negative thoughts. If this is especially hard for you, therapy may be able to help.
  • Set goals and priorities. Identify those things that are important for you to work on in different aspects of your life, such as at home, work or school, or in your personal life. Learn to say “No” if you start to feel like you’re taking on too much, and try to recognize what you have accomplished at the end of each day.

3. Build healthy relationships with your family and friends. 

• • Evaluate the quality of your relationships and work to make them better. Are you choosing healthy, positive friendships and partnerships?
  • Stay connected. Reach out to friends, family members, coworkers, and others who provide you with emotional support and practical help.
  • Maintain boundaries. Be careful of giving too much of your time and energy to people who aren’t healthy for you.

4. Consult with your doctor or a mental health professional.

• • If you’re struggling with your mental health, or even just think you aren’t feeling as good as you’d like to be, a therapist, counselor, or other mental health professional can help you create a plan to keep yourself well and promote good habits.