Get Mentally Healthy
Being mentally healthy doesn’t have to be expensive or hard work. A healthier lifestyle helps us cope better with the stresses of everyday life and makes us less at risk of developing conditions that start to affect us as we grow older.
There are many easy no-cost things you can do to improve and maintain your mental health.
Here’s an easy list of ten activities to help you be mentally healthy. Most activities don’t require any special equipment, training or other investment – just your commitment. Knowing what to do, getting a plan together and following through will help you make healthy habits. The key is consistency, so give priority to regularly looking after yourself.
Ten activities for getting mentally healthy:
- Take a hike! – Close your eyes and dream of being in your favourite place – out in the forest, lazing on the beach, on a boat or a vacation. Just go there; getaway!
- Breathe Slowly – Take some slow, deep breathes and with each one listen to the air coming into and leaving your lungs.
- Have a laugh – Laughing actually lowers a hormone (cortisol) that our bodies produce when we are under stress. Having a laugh about something is fun too.
- Break out the music – Put on some favourite music that takes you to a memorable occasion. Music that you can dance or sing to is even better.
- Get some sunshine – Fresh air and sunlight is good for your mental health, especially in winter.
- Regular exercise – Aim for 30 minutes a day – walk, swim, cycle, stretch, even little bite size bouts of exercise. It all helps!
- Call a friend – Have a yarn, catch up for a coffee.
- Get to sleep! – Adequate sleep is a big help. Aim for 6-8 hours per night, every night.
- Give it a rest – Reduce your intake of alcohol.
- Eat healthy – Eat more raw foods (vegetables, fruit, nuts, legumes) and less sugar, fat and processed foods. Drink plenty of water too.
For more ideas, see the fact sheets.
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