Q8: How Do I Improve My Mental Health?

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

​HAPPY NEW YEAR 2023
Here are 5 ways to boost improve your mental health. Say aloud, "My New Year's resolution will be to sleep, eat clean, exercise, relax, and improve my appearance."

• Sleep
  • Go to sleep! Why are you all checking your phones and reading the laptop at 2am? Then, you become cranky with everyone you encounter because you are tired all day. Your emotions and mood are tied to your sleep. Poor sleeping habits make existing mental health symptoms worse or trigger new ones. Your body needs restorative time to heal itself as you rest. 
• Eat Clean
  • "You are what you eat to your head down to your feet!" Time for Timer, ABC Television Network, Public Service Announcement in 1975. When you eat better, your body immediately knows the difference  which positively impacts your mental health. Be present and mindful about what you put into your body. Eat healthy to protect your brain and boost your mood. Here's a reminder for all of you 1970s and 80s kids.

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• Exercise
  • ​​​Your mental health matters! Get some exercise. Symptoms of mental health decrease with exercise. There are plenty of studies that discuss the connectedness of our mental health with being active. Regular exercise improves your emotions, and you will feel increased confidence about your overall health and wellness.
• Relaxation
  • Start your day calm, refreshed, and balanced. Blood flows better this way, and you will have more energy.
  • Take a vacation. It can be within your home, a hotel within your area, or out of town. You need downtime to rejuvenate your mental health. 
  • Walk away from stress and distance yourself from scheduled routines. Even if it's for 5 minutes, it helps.
• Appearance
  • "If you look good, you feel good."
  •  "If you feel good, you play good."
  • "If you play good, they pay good."
  • As quoted by Deion Sanders (smile). Your appearance does play a role in how you feel. When you feel you look good, then you will have a positive image of yourself which increases your self-esteem, self-confidence, and your overall mood.
    
  • Even if you work from home, put on some real clothes, perfume or cologne, and make up. Take some selfies and put them on TikTok like the rest of us. If you do, then you knew that I was right about your appearance. :)

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