Mental Health tips

Mental health is one of the most neglected health problems in the world, despite its great importance within our society. Mental health affects how we live our lives each day. In order to stay positive and improve your mental health and your life, try to use some of these practices.

Every single day, a person is faced with challenges and overwhelming emotions, and coping mechanisms are ways in which one can deal with these stressors. Here are 10 coping mechanisms you can easily incorporate into your life to help you control your reactions to these situations.

1. Practice taking deep breaths to calm you down and relax your body. Deep breathing increases the supply of oxygen to your brain and stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes a state of calmness.

2. Write down your feelings. Getting the frustration, anger, or sadness and writing it on paper can sometimes make you feel as though a weight has been lifted.

3. Talk to someone close to you if you are feeling overwhelmed or weak. Sometimes a conversation is all you need.

4. Exercise. We all know about the physical benefits of exercise, but it can also have a tremendous impact on your mental health. When you exercise, your body produces chemicals such as endorphins, which can contribute to stress relief and feelings of happiness.Try to make a habit of exercising for at least 30 minutes each day.

5. Maintain a balanced diet. This doesn't mean you can't enjoy the cake at your birthday party, but a regular diet lacking in the vitamins and nutrients that your body needs can have disastrous effects on your mental health. While a balanced diet can keep your physical body functioning optimally, it also has a powerful impact within your brain. According to Harvard Health, studies have even suggested that a balanced diet reduces your risk of depression.

6. Read positive affirmations. Affirmations are simple statements that are designed to create self-change in the individual using them. These statements can serve as inspiration within your life. Examples of positive affirmations include statements such as "I believe in, trust and have confidence in myself."

7. Start a new hobby. While hobbies for many serve as a way to build new skills, they can also boost self-esteem and have significant positive effects on mental health. According to research published by the Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine, those who often engage in hobbies and enjoyable leisure activities can improve psychological wellbeing.

8. Clean. Cleaning can distract the mind, and the successful completion of a task can produce feelings of accomplishment. In addition, a tidy space can help you to feel more at peace and less overwhelmed

9. Face the problem. If you're using these coping mechanisms in order to wrestle with a specific problem, it might be best to confront that problem head-on. While coping mechanisms can be good for the mind and body, sometimes the healthiest thing you can do is face the situation.

10. Talk to a professional. A counselor/therapist is a safe person you can talk to who will never judge you. Hard times happen to everyone, but with the right tools, you can learn to deal with them in a positive way.

1. Try to focus on the good aspects, no matter how small, of any situation. Almost invariably, you’re going to encounter obstacles throughout the day—there’s no such thing as a perfect day. When you encounter such a challenge, focus on the benefits, no matter how slight or unimportant they may seem.

2. Turn failures into lessons. Instead of focusing on how you failed, think about what you’re going to do next time to overcome the challenge and improve your performance.

3. Turn negative self-talk into positive self-talk. When you catch yourself thinking negatively about yourself or about your situation,stop and consider whether these thoughts are truly fair and helpful. For example, the thought, "I’m so bad at this" becomes, "Once I get more practice, I’ll be way better at this." "I shouldn’t have tried" becomes, "That didn’t work out as planned—maybe next time."

4. Focus on the present. Focus on this one, individual moment. Much of the time, you'll find that the current state of your situation is not as bad as you had imagined- you were over exaggerating the future potential for negative consequences. Most sources of negativity stem from a memory of a recent event or the exaggerated imagination of a potential future event. Stay in the present moment.