Take care of your body: Our brain is always ‘alive’ and working, taking care of essential internal activities such as breathing and keeping the heart beating. Just like fuel to engine, the brain needs its own fuel that comes from the food that we consume. Therefore, we are, quite literally, what we eat! It goes without saying that being in good physical health contributes to better mental health. It gives you ample energy to get through the day; even adding exercising and keeping your body active- which has been found to reduce anxiety and depression. Regular exercise can also help you sleep better at night, decreasing the likelihood of developing stress symptoms.

Stress management: Stressors can come from different sources depending on where, who and what we engage with, in our daily lives. A major contributor to mental health issues is stress, which if gone untreated, carry the risk of developing into complex mental disorders. Stress management techniques vary from person to person because we all experience stress differently and thus, deal with it differently. These techniques allow us to be calm in the face of adversity, build resilience and even develop healthy coping strategies. One important step in stress management is to identify the source of stress and learn to cope with it through different methods such as breathing exercises, meditation, relaxation techniques and even exercise. It is advisable to completely eliminate the source of stress whenever possible, for example, ending an abusive relationship or quitting a job that is causing too much stress.

Set realistic goals- For many of us, life goals change as we grow older- from wanting to be a superhero when we were children to becoming an engineer or a writer. Unlike this transition from childhood ambitions to more realistic goals, as adults, we sometimes tend to set unattainable goals for ourselves that eventually lands us in fatigue and burnout. Unaware of our capabilities, sometimes we aim much higher than humanly possible and feel discouraged when we do not reach them. Therefore, when we know our own capabilities and lay down a set of smaller, attainable, realistic and manageable goals, we have a higher chance at achieving them and will keep us feeling more motivated.

Break the monotony: A vacation to an exotic island, a trip around the world, going to a concert, taking your family or friends to a new restaurant, trying out a new look,  even just reading a new book. Changes, small or big, can have a positive impact on your mental health. A monotonous life has been found to have detrimental effects on the brain such as a decline of cognitive functioning. Monotony reduces your life into an endless cycle of dull and uninteresting chore-like moments that are repetitive, sometimes leading to boredom and loneliness or even depression. Taking the time to unwind and do something that breaks the monotony will positively impact your mental health; like a breath of fresh air, your brain will automatically register new activity and increase performance.

Socialize: Being social animals, we are attracted towards building relationships and we strive for companionship. Support systems hold immense value in the psychology of a person. Surrounding yourself with people you like to spend time with, people who share your thoughts and experiences or even those who challenge you in life is key to building and maintaining a stable mental health. Socializing can also be practiced through altruism or giving yourself to society like volunteering at community events. This gives you a sense of belongingness that is essential to a person’s growth towards self actualization, increasing self esteem, and even finding your own identity.

Find an outlet: Some people like to write, some like to paint, some like to make music while others might enjoy pottery, sculpting, and an endless number of hobbies. All these are potential outlets for healthy venting. Doing whatever makes you feel good about yourself, anything that calms you down when you feel agitated or stressed can be very therapeutic.

Seek help when in need: The most important step in taking care of your own mental health is knowing when you need help and realizing you need help. It is fair to say that we still suffer from stigmatization when it comes to mental health.  Some are scared to ask for help, afraid to look vulnerable and weak while some live in denial that no help is needed. Sometimes we are caught up in wanting to be strong for someone else that we tend to neglect obvious red flags in our own mental health. Love yourself enough to want to do what is best for you. When you accept help, you are already on your way to recovery. We should normalize looking out for ourselves because at the end of the day, if we don’t look out for ourselves, who will?

It is important to note that we are all unique human beings and we all deal with issues differently. There is no hard and fast rule about which way is better than the other- some methods may work for you while others may not. If the need arises, seek professional help as soon as possible and gradually work towards developing a stronger and better mental health.

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