I’m sharing this guide on ways to support your mental health and wellbeing because I’m a bestselling author and entrepreneur – with about 2 million books and courses sold globally.
It’s a staggering fact that nearly 58 million Americans are grappling with some form of mental health issue, and a significant portion of these, over 14 million, are classified as serious mental health issues.
It’s crucial that we don’t shy away from the issue of mental health. By empowering individuals to take charge of their mental well-being, we can spark significant changes that not only benefit them but also ripple out to others, fostering a community with improved mental health.
As an individual, knowing how to support emotional health and well-being is vital to help you avoid succumbing to a mental illness and detracting from your quality of life.
But what can you do to make things better for you and support good mental health?
Prevention is better than cure. Much like brushing your teeth prevents cavities and tooth loss, preventing poor mental health is much easier and beneficial than coming back from poor mental health.
Let’s get started!
Sharing your worries, whether through writing or talking, is a crucial step towards feeling relieved and less burdened. It’s a reminder that you’re not alone in your struggles and that there are people and resources ready to support you.
You can talk to family or friends about your concerns or ask for help in supporting good mental health. Alternatively, talking to your doctor, a therapist, or a charity can help you make necessary changes or get the treatment you need before things get too bad. They can be an extremely valuable resource, as can joining support groups with like-minded people.
Bad habits can impact your life in many ways. While not all bad habits are harmful to your health, they might impact your mental health and prove to be detrimental to your well-being. These can be simple things like biting your nails, procrastinating, or indulging in too many sweet treats. You can also drink too much alcohol or take drugs to try to remove yourself from your life and any stressors you might be facing.
Developing an action plan to break bad habits is a powerful step towards a healthier, more balanced life. Whether it’s replacing unhealthy snacks or seeking professional help such as entering inpatient drug rehab, overcoming these habits can instill a sense of empowerment and control over one’s well-being.
Sleep deprivation or poor quality sleep is going to be detrimental to your mental health and well-being. Sleep deprivation can lead to poor choices in your life, reduced energy or willpower, and a lack of desire to do anything to support yourself in improving your life.
Taking the time to improve your sleeping habits can drastically improve your lifestyle. Everyone needs between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night, and determining your ideal bedtime, paying attention to your sleeping environment, and understanding your sleeping habits, patterns, and sleep cycles can enable you to improve your sleep to improve your mental health.
Exercise has been scientifically proven to boost mental health, and the more you move and the more exercise you get, the better you will feel.
When you exercise, even going for a short walk, you release endorphins, which make you feel good. The better you feel, the better your well-being will be.
It doesn’t matter what exercise you do, just that you’re moving and doing something; the AHA recommended all adults get at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as brisk walking, or 75 minutes per week of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity, such as running, or a combination of both, preferably spread throughout the week.
A poor diet will eventually catch up with you, and you won’t feel your best if your body is not nourished properly. If you want to feel good inside and out, then focusing on your diet can be a great approach.
The more nutritious your diet, the better you will feel and the more you will be able to do. This means including more fruit and vegetables, eating lean meat, making healthy food choices, and getting enough vitamins and minerals in your diet each day.
Remember to stay adequately hydrated, too. You need to drink at least 8 cups of water per day, not just when you feel thirsty. If you’re properly hydrated, you will be able to focus better, feel healthier, sleep better, have improved digestion, and so on.
While you might not feel like doing so, there are many benefits to being positive in your day-to-day life. It’s not about giving in to toxic positivity and never letting yourself experience the negatives in life. It’s about having a better outlook, giving out what you want to receive back into the world, and being mindful of your life and its good things. It’s a step towards feeling hopeful and optimistic about your mental health journey.
Even if everything is going wrong, gratitude can help to ground you and remind you there are all good things in life. It might be that it didn’t rain as you walked to work today, or you managed to complete a task you’ve been putting off, or something else small like you ate a delicious sandwich for lunch. It doesn’t matter how big or small it is, just that you notice and acknowledge it. Your mental health will improve the more positive you are and the more positives you can pinpoint and focus on.
Managing your mental health and well-being is always as easy as you want it to be, and as the advice goes, prevention is better than cure. Taking measures to help you be in the best mental state can help you avoid mental health issues and support you in living your life in the best possible way.
There are multiple ways to protect your mental and emotional well-being now and in the future, from exercising and eating a balanced diet to talking to someone, stopping bad habits, and focusing on the good things in life.
Explore my bestselling and therapist recommended audio and video program: The Anxiety Cure Course.
Think about subscribing for free weekly tools here.
No SPAM, ever! Read the Privacy Policy for more information.
