Considering the state the world is in today, simply staying sane is a challenge. We need to actively take care of our mental health, just as we are trying to fight off airborne viruses, such as COVID-19.
In order for the following 10 methods to be effective, you have to practice them nearly every day. This will prove difficult but perseverance is the only way to improve your mental health.
Sound asleep
If you ever felt fluttered and distracted after sleeping for only a couple of hours the previous night, then you’ve experienced firsthand the correlation between sleep and mental health. The most important aspects of sleep are quantity and quality.
Firstly, you should sleep for at least 8 hours on average. Some people require 6 hours of sleep, while others can’t start their day unless they’ve slept for 10 hours.
Secondly, you should be sound asleep during the night, without waking up to go to the bathroom. Quiet and dark surroundings are necessary if you wish to wake up well-rested.
Focus on the present moment
The reason we are often distraught is the memory that still haunts us or future events we dread of. Torn apart between the past and the future, we are unable to enjoy the present moment. The trick to staying sane is to live in the present moment, without unnecessary thoughts weighing down on us.
Such an approach to life is called mindfulness and it isn’t that hard to achieve. For instance, meditation is one way to reconnect with your inner self and enter a spiritual plain deprived of all somber thoughts. For instance, yoga is a great way to achieve this state of the mind.
Adopting a healthier lifestyle
Few people can boast a 100% healthy lifestyle. For the majority of us, simply adopting a healthier lifestyle is a huge achievement. On day to day basis, this implies small choices that will have a huge impact on our mental and physical health.
We are referring to taking the stairs instead of the elevator, cycling to work, or going for a stroll after lunch. These activities might seem trivial but they are excellent motivators that will help keep our spirits high. After all, scientists have proven beyond doubt the correlation between mental health and exercise.
One step at a time
Speaking of walking, you do so by taking one step at a time; so why not apply the same strategy for psychological progress. Many folks are workaholics and perfectionists, which are both stress generators.
Now, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be ambitious but just that you need to learn to take things slowly. If your mind is thinking only about the next step and not about the end goal, you will get there faster without endangering your mental health.
Biophilic design
The color green calms people down, so no wonder that verdant green is the color of Nature. Unfortunately, urban settlements are everything but it doesn’t have to be so in regard to our dwellings. You are the boss inside your house or apartment, so take the opportunity to reconnect with nature.
A garden inside your home will make the space fragrant and plant life will ease your mind. In order not to worry about spending money on plants, Afterpay flowers allow you to get the flowers now and pay later. Verdant, colorful, and fragrant plants will induce only happy thoughts.
Treat yourself once in a while
Buying presents for other people is a great feeling but aren’t you forgetting someone? It might sound odd that you would want to buy a present for yourself but this is one of the quickest ways to cheer yourself up.
In this sense, shopping becomes therapeutic, as you are truly investing in your wellbeing. The alternative to buying a new pair of shoes or ordering a bouquet of flowers is to go away for the weekend, perhaps to a spa or a winter resort.
Don’t shy away from other people
A John Donne used to sing: “No man is an island.” This simply means that people are social beings, so shying away from others when you are going through a rough patch is counterproductive.
Quite the contrary, you should open up and socialize more than ever when you sense an impending mental health crisis. Try to surround yourself with positive people on daily basis and you’ll soon start smiling more often.
Have someone hear you out
Speaking of socializing, the reason why it’s good for you to be around people who love you and care for you is to always have someone to hear you out.
If something had been bugging you for a while, simply sharing your thoughts and fears with someone is enough to make you feel relaxed again. This person can be anyone, from a family member to a close friend (we don’t recommend opening up to complete strangers, though).
Fight to break the routine
In our daily lives, routines are good things, as they provide us with the necessary sense of security. However, doing the same things from day to day can have a devastating effect on our mental health. That’s why you need to break up the monotony from time to time.
We are not referring to radical actions, such as moving house on the spur of the moment but rather simple things. For instance, if you walk in the same park every Sunday, go to another park.
Instead of eating at the restaurant where you have eaten for years, find a new place that offers a different menu. These changes might seem minuscule; trivial even, but they are enough to break that nasty routine that leads to apathy.
Stay off alcohol (and drugs)
Apart from adopting healthy habits, you need to get rid of some harmful habits as well. First of all, you need to stay clear of all drugs and significantly reduce the use of alcohol. Such substances have a negative effect on your mental health.
The trick to making the 10 techniques listed above work is to practice them nearly every day. This way, the improvements in the state of your mind will become permanent over time, giving you the strength to handle every curveball life throws at you.
