With mental health problems on the rise, it’s now more important than ever before to understand how to look after yourself mentally and to achieve optimum mental wellbeing.
Put simply, mental wellbeing describes your mental state. This determines how you feel and how well you cope day to day. Mental wellbeing is ever changing. It can change from moment to moment, month to month, year to year and can be influenced by circumstance. Of course, it is not possible to control all that goes on around us, but being of good mental health will help you deal with whatever life throws your way.
Read on to discover how to achieve optimum mental wellbeing…
Understanding Mental Wellbeing
In order to work on improving your mental health, it is first important to understand how good mental wellbeing impacts on you as an individual. If you are of good mental wellbeing you are able to:
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Express and feel a range of emotions.
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Have confidence and good self-esteem.
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Be able to engage with the world around you.
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Feel productive in work and general day to day life.
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Build and maintain positive relationships.
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Cope well with the stresses of everyday life.
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Adapt and manage during times of change and uncertainty.
Improving Mental Wellbeing
It is important for us all to consider our mental wellbeing. In neglecting your it, you may find you have develop more complex problems, such as anxiety or depression.
The first step towards improving mental health is being aware of how you feel day to day. Once you have understood this you can work towards improvement. Think about how you might cope with stressful situations and your relationships with others. This about your relationship with yourself and how you respond to change. All these things will help to build a picture of your mental wellbeing.
Stress, loneliness, a lack of sleep and inactivity can all have a negative impact on your mental health. Even if you currently think that you don’t need to work on improving your mental wellbeing, it is important to be aware of what you need to do to maintain positive mental health.
Top Tips
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Build positive relationships. We feel good when we spend time with the people that we love, or when we push ourselves to seek new relationships. Avoid loneliness by setting aside time each week to spend with loved ones. Consider joining a group or trying a new class to meet new people too.
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Make time for yourself. Investing in yourself is a great way to improve your mental wellbeing. Try yoga or meditation. Both yoga and meditation can be about gratitude – being thankful for your body and soul – and letting go of anything that’s troubling you.
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Exercise every day. Inactivity can have a hugely negative impact on mental health. Try fitting in half an hour of exercise a day, even if it’s just a brisk walk, or join a class to benefit from the social element too.
Taking care of yourself both physically and mentally is key to how you feel each and every day. In taking the time to care for your wellbeing, you can help to improve the positivity in your life. Soon you will start to feel more confident, happier and healthier.
