Looking After Your Mental Health
According to mind.org, 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem every year. With this in mind, the importance of fostering your mental health is more important than ever and, with it being less stigmatised now as opposed to ten years ago, it is also easier than ever before.
For many people, the most common reason for ignoring your mental health is that they cannot find enough time in their day to take the appropriate measures. This is however the easiest excuse and also a tell-tale sign that you should in fact be spending some extra time on looking after your mental health. There’s genuine busyness and then there’s the sort of ‘busyness’ where you convince yourself you don’t have time, simply to avoid what should really be dealt with.
While our mental health is forever going to be an enigma to some extent, there are of course simple measures we can all take to help declutter our mind.
A good night’s sleep
Sleep is the cure for everything but yet few of us are getting enough of it. Although everyone has a different daily rhythm, and the time we can each afford to dedicate to sleep differs greatly, there are a number of things you can do to enhance the quality of the sleep you are getting. First things first, ensure you are using a top quality mattress. Certain companies like Eve allow you a free trial and also have plenty of reviews for you to do your research before committing. Other accessories like earplugs and eye masks are also useful depending on what kind of sleeper you are. Finally, another important piece of advice: take a break from your technology (smartphone, tablet, laptop, etc.) shortly before bed – this will make all the difference to the quality of your sleep.
Meditation
Meditation is the word on everyone’s lips at the moment. With free online tutorials, local yoga studios offering meditation classes, and even schools having mindfulness workshops, meditation has become a lot more accessible. What once seemed like an impossible activity meant only for the most Zen of people, is now something that is being practiced regularly – both at home and in classes – by people who simply lead a busy lifestyle. Although the act of meditation initially seems so basic, the benefits of it are astounding. Allowing your mind that designated time to process your thoughts and tame your mind can do wonders for your daily life. Add some meditation to your routine and reap the rewards both mentally and physically.
Exercise
One of the most common reasons for exercising is of course to maintain your physical health, but the benefits it can have on your mental health are endless. Exercise is an excellent stress and anxiety reliever and it also releases endorphins, which act as a natural painkiller and give you an overall positive feeling. Generally speaking, exercise can improve mood, self-esteem, sleep and just overall wellbeing.