Whether you’re having a hard time with your mental health and you want to know what you can do to improve it, or you’re doing well and you want to ensure that it stays that way, take a look at these surprising things that can affect mental health…
Eating your veggies
We all know that vegetables are a vital part of a healthy balanced diet, but did you know that eating between three and four servings of veg each day has been shown to lower stress levels, according to the University of Sydney. So, it might be time to start filling your plate with even more veggies if you’re having a tough time.
Consuming alcohol
A lot of people who are having a tough time with their mental health turn to alcohol or other drugs because they think it will make them feel happier, more confident and less stressed. Would it surprise you to learn that the absolute opposite is true? Sure, it might make you think you feel better when you’re drunk, but once it wears off you’ll feel worse than ever. If you struggle with alcohol due to your mental health, doctors and rehab clinics are there to help. There’s nothing wrong with having a glass or two from time to time, but using alcohol to mask your mental health is a really bad idea long-term.
Mindfulness meditation
Research has shown that mindfulness meditation is successful in lowering stress levels, reducing anxiety, and minimising depression symptoms in many people. If you can count your breaths, you can meditate mindfully and you might want to do so if you’re constantly living in your head and it’s causing you to feel mentally less than your best. Mindfulness can be free and it’s pretty simple to learn, so why not make it a regular part of your day?
Perfectionism
Do you always have to get things just right? Do you beat yourself up when anything in your life is less than perfect? You could be seriously damaging your mental health. The quest for perfection can cause self-esteem to fall, increase anger and make you hate yourself, so do what you can to accept the fact that good enough really is good enough and you’ll probably start to feel better.
Your dog
If you have a dog, you’ll be pleased to know that your furry friend could be doing wonders for your mental health. Researchers have found that dogs boost their owners’ sense of wellbeing, lower stress and help to fight depression amongst other things. So, next time you’re feeling down, snuggle up with your dog and watch your worries melt away.
Annoying noises
A German study found that people who are sensitive to noises, that is to say, people who are easily annoyed by various sounds, are twice as likely as the general population to suffer from anxiety and depression. The moral of the story? Invest in a good set of earplugs.
By avoiding the negative triggers and doing more of the positive stuff above, you should be able to improve your mental health…at least a little bit.
This is a collaborative post
