Tips on How to Keep Your Mind Healthy

It’s impossible to stay completely sane today. Demanding jobs, not enough money, everyone wants something from you, and the troubling situation in the world, are some of the things that may be giving you anxiety. But not everything is lost since while some things you can change, others are possible to control. Here are tips that will help you to keep your mind healthy and improve the way you go about your days.

1. Don’t be afraid of your feelings

Some people believe that showing emotions publicly or acknowledging how you feel is a weakness. But being aware of your feelings and unafraid to show them is the key to keep your mind healthy. Talking about your feelings is not easy and it may take some time before you are comfortable doing that. This is normal, so don't push yourself too hard.

Professionals, like psychotherapists, know how to encourage you to open up without shame and embarrassment, while some friends and family members can also be good listeners. Not bottling up your emotions and being honest about them to others can resolve years of troubling thoughts and bad relationships with people in your life. Once you get that out of the way, you will be able to move forward and make better choices.

2. Get your daily dose of physical activity

Exercise is something each and every one of us should include in our days since it boosts the production of feel-good hormones and improves overall health. Today, there are so many ways to exercise without paying expensive personal trainers or going to the gym, that not doing it is just an excuse.

Yoga at home needs only a mat and small space while walking around the neighborhood is a good way to both stay social and physically active. Owning fitness equipment, like a stationary bike or treadmill, is a one-time purchase that can help you clear your head and tackle stress. Moreover, once you see the results on your toned body or start losing weight, you will gain back your confidence and feel empowered.

3. Learn to enjoy some “Me Time”

It’s not selfish to think of yourself and what makes you feel good. Having a “Me Time” moment is a big part of improving your mental health and lowering stress levels. For example, spend an afternoon under a pergola roof reading or listening to music with a face mask on. Book a spa day or a getaway weekend just for yourself and make sure to let everyone know you are only available in case of emergencies.

When finding time is a problem, take advantage of the situation, like getting up earlier than everyone else to have a quiet coffee moment before the day starts. Delegate house chores among other household members even the kids. Additionally, encourage your loved ones to also have their "Me Times" and work on keeping their mind healthy.

4. Take a break from social media

Social media is a great way to stay in touch with acquaintances, but not a good strategy to hang out with people you are close to. It also should not be a standard you measure everything you do. Pictures and posts on social media never tell the whole story, but describe a moment in someone’s life. If people look happy and fulfilled on their profile that doesn’t mean they don’t get sad, angry, or dissatisfied. Because they do, just like you and everyone else you know.

So, when you feel that social media is causing you to have negative emotions about the world and yourself — take a little break. Go and meet with friends in person, visit an art show, or just spend time with yourself. To keep your mind healthy, you need to know when you had enough of the things that don’t make you happy and practice some self-love to heal.

5. Saying “No” is not a bad thing

We all want others to like us and when that doesn't happen, we feel unworthy and inferior. One of the ways we try to earn points with people is by saying "Yes" when we want to say “No.” If you don’t have any other option, be graceful about rejecting an offer or set your own terms.

There are situations in life when you may not be able to say "No", for example, when you get an assignment from your boss. Because of such reluctant tasks, you should be more mindful of what you accept to do that is not so important. Taking advantage of the freedom to do so will give you more self-esteem, valuable for better mental health.

The verdict

These are only some of the tips to keep your mind healthy. The fact is that you need to ask yourself what makes you feel good and acknowledge you need to make a change. It's scary in the beginning, but once you see all the benefits of self-care, you won't be able to resist moving forward.