5 Easy Ways to Turn Everyday into a Mental Health Day
Life can be incredibly overwhelming as we live in a fast paced society that values productivity.
Hustle culture can be taxing.
Mental health is usually neglected as pressure from work is prioritized and some days are just harder than others.
Psychologists and professional experts, however, have begun to stress the importance of mental health.
Good mental health can lead to more workplace productivity, better social relationships, and a more positive outlook on life.
When you feel like you don’t have the time to spend on your mental health is exactly when you have to take the time to do so.
5 Easy Ways to Improve Mental Health Daily
Here are 5 simple yet effective ways to turn any day into a mental health day.
Eat a Nutritious Meal
Eating a nutrient-dense meal is like giving your body the building blocks it needs to be strong. It is more than just fuel that helps your body move, repair, and heal, it is a simple act of love towards yourself.
Our taste buds crave what we eat most, and while junk food is meant to be addictive, whole, unprocessed food is meant to be energizing.
Make time in your day to eat a healthy nutritional meal full of color, leafy greens, red tomatoes, whole wheat, and a good amount of protein.
Healthy meals are even becoming more accessible as takeout if you don’t have the time to cook.
Ever wonder why junk food tends to make us tired and leads to crashes? It is full of over-processed ingredients that don’t serve you.
Giving your body a healthy meal is a great way to regulate your mood, increase mental clarity, and energize you!
Exercise in a Fun Way
Exercise is hard.
That’s it. It’s true when they say no pain no gain. To build muscle, endurance, and stamina, you have to push your body.
But it doesn’t always have to be an intense high-energy workout, especially if you don’t have the energy to do so.
Even just walking has great cardiovascular benefits to the body.
And a silly little walk can have great physical and mental benefits as well. Being outdoors in nature itself is a simple yet amazing mental health boost we can all use.
Moving your body can help release physical tension, ease mental stress, and help motivate you for the day!
10 minutes is all you need to take advantage of this for mental health benefits.
You can even try a moving meditation like yoga to boost mental clarity or do a couple of moves to set you up for success.
Every day doesn’t have to be an intense HIIT workout!
Drink Water
Sometimes, the signal of being thirsty is so subtle, that it is easily ignored.
Drink water when you are thirsty!
Your body and mind will thank you for it, as some experience daily dehydration that can wear on mental health.
Even better, make sure you have water with some electrolytes like lemon or lime to make water more appealing and healthier!
Make Time for a Hobby
Making time for an activity that brings you joy is underrated.
Just because something doesn’t contribute financially doesn’t make it worthless.
The purpose of something that has no other point other than your happiness is incredibly liberating and enjoyable.
When we cultivate our hobbies, we send a signal to the brain that our happiness matters, that our joy is important.
Try to make time for a hobby in your daily life. It can be anything from dancing, crocheting, playing a video game, etc.
Find something you love and let it consume you for half an hour, you deserve it!
Rest Properly
Sleep is incredibly important.
It is the time when our bodies rest, recover, and repair.
Improper sleep can lead to decreased health, an imbalance of hormones, and a reduced immune system.
And the worst part is that insomnia affects as many as 60% of the population at any given time!
Luckily there are things you can do to improve your sleep hygiene, like reducing the use of electronics, reducing blue light exposure, and avoiding caffeine after 5 pm.
There are even some breathing exercises you can try that some people say puts them to sleep in under a minute!
The important thing is to get your zzz’s in, as this can drastically improve mental health.
The Takeaway
Life will overwhelm you if you let it, as we are all balancing work and rest time, trying to fit everything into a day.
Luckily we can start making micro changes in our daily life to ease the stress we feel and improve our mental health.
Fuel your body right and eat a nutritious meal. Remember to drink water when you are thirsty and get a proper amount of sleep.
Move your body in a way you enjoy, take a walk, do yoga, dance or swim. Find ways to work out without feeling the pressure of perfection or the intensity of a HIIT workout.
Finally, try to balance hobbies with work, and find little activities you can do that bring you joy.
Self-care is not selfish and your mental wellbeing is just as important as physical wellness.
