4 Ways To Boost Your Mental Health

By a Yoga Medicine® Contributor.

We all know how important it is to maintain a healthy relationship with one’s mental health, from endless books dedicated to the subject to podcasts raving about the latest mental health fads. The topic of mental well-being is nothing new; however, despite the constant information, finding ways to build a better relationship with your mental health can be hard.

Here are four tips that can help you boost your mental health.

1. Practice Self-Care

When we talk about boosting one’s mental health, self-care is often mentioned as an essential pillar, but why is that? Practicing self-care will not only help you manage stress and increase your energy, but it will help you set healthy habits and develop a more positive mindset. Integrating self-care into your daily routine shouldn’t feel overwhelming or taxing. Start by pinpointing the areas in your life where you tend to struggle the most, whether that’s getting a good night’s sleep or finding time to relax, and learn to turn those struggles into successes.

Once you know what areas of your life could use a little love, it will be easier to take care of yourself. Saying “no” more often to others is a way to practice self-care, even though it may be extremely difficult. Practicing self-care can look like many things. For instance, taking a weekly nighttime bubble bath to eating healthier and exercising every day. The whole point of self-care is to keep you happy and healthy, so make sure you find time to fit self-care into your daily schedule.

2. Strengthen Your Body

As you may know, your body is connected to your mind and when your physical health is good, many times your mental health will follow. Keeping your body moving through daily exercise can reduce stress and nervousness. If you’re someone who struggles with motivating yourself to work out, find a workout plan that best fits your capabilities. If heavy weights and gym equipment seem intimidating then try other forms of exercise like practicing yoga or going on a walk.

Yoga is a great way to improve your balance and strength as you can adjust to various levels of intensity. Yoga also involves breathwork, as it focuses on meditation, which is a great outlet for those looking for relaxation. If you’re looking to start classes from the comfort of your home then don’t fret, Yoga Medicine offers online classes for those looking to invest in their health. Yoga Medicine allows you to practice classes that are most convenient for you.

3. Find Your Zen

Life can get overwhelming and stressful, so it’s crucial that you find moments of peace to help you feel centered and unwind. Finding peace of mind doesn’t have to be a complicated journey, but focusing on simpler ways to elevate your mood and enjoy life is important. Going for a daily walk or journaling throughout your day are simple ways to improve your mental health and boost your mood. If you’re looking for a more structured approach then take up relaxation practices like yoga, mediation, or deep breathing to help you find your inner calmness and improve your emotional self-awareness.

Now if you find yourself struggling to find inner peace or to feel any sense of calm then consider talking to a professional. Consulting with an online psychiatrist can help you pinpoint issues and solutions that work best for you while in the comfort of your own home. Finding your inner peace is all about finding moments that help you feel at ease, so don’t be afraid to ask for help if needed. Reconnecting with your needs will lead you to feel recharged, relaxed, and ready to take on any obstacles that may come your way.

4. Set Realistic Goals

When we think about becoming the best version of ourselves, we think about shaking off any of our negative habits and creating a more healthy routine. Sleeping for eight hours a night, drinking more water, and becoming more active can be harder than you think. More often than not, people tend to want to change all their habits at once. Setting unrealistic goals will only lead to you feeling frustrated and hindering your mental health more than helping to improve it.

If you’re looking to change some of your unhealthy habits then start by focusing on one or two habits at a time. Setting realistic goals will help you feel more in control and less overwhelmed. A great trick to help you change your unhealthy habits is to replace one behavior with another. For example, if you tend to have a sugary drink, like soda, with your dinner then swap out your soda for seltzer water to help, or deciding to eat fruit every time you want something sweet can help your brain adjust from the negative habit to a more positive one.

Your mental health journey is ongoing and if you’re struggling with depression or anxiety it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. Like anything in life, there will be highs and lows when it comes to our mental health but it’s how you handle those lows that will make all the difference.