Every year, like clockwork, the most popular new year resolutions are starting a diet, losing weight, and saving money. Although your physical physique and finances are important; are you neglecting the importance of protecting your mental health? This year make guarding your mental health a priority. Below are 5 tips that will help you improve your mental health this year.
Five Tips to Improve Your Mental Health
- Explore your Feelings
There are a range of emotions that we face on a daily basis. Knowing what makes you feel happy, sad, mad, disappointed, angry, etc. will not only allow you to have a better understanding of how you feel but will also allow you to effectively communicate your emotions in a constructive manner.
- Talk to Someone
Like opening a can of soda after it’s been shaken, bottling up your emotions can have disastrous consequences. Finding a person you can confidently confide in will spare you the emotional and physical toll of keeping your feelings contained.
- Change your Environment
Our environment plays a major impact on our feelings. For instance, think about how you feel walking around at home in your pajamas versus wearing your work clothes while stuck in early morning stop-and-go traffic. Understanding the impact your environment has on your mental health will allow you to put yourself in ideal situations.
- Develop positive Coping Skills
Let’s face it…in life bad things happen. Unfortunately, when these things inevitably do happen everyone always suggest staying positive. But staying positive is hard. Having positive coping skills will allow you to handle whatever life throws at you.
- Learn to Relax
Feel like you’re always busy? Well you’re not alone. According to the U.S. Travel Association more than 55% of American workers don’t use all of their allotted time off (ie. paid time off). This number (which is already on the rise) will surely increase as more individuals work from home. One of the biggest mental stressors can be your job, so this year commit to relaxing by using your vacation days.
Every year individuals kick off the year focused on their physical health. This year, we challenge you to commit to focusing on your mental health as well. New year, healthier you!
