Mental Health Awareness Week: 6 Ways to Look After Your Mental Health

Words byNicola Barnes

May 08 2022

Mental Health Awareness Week: 6 Ways to Look After Your Mental Health

This week (9th-15th May) marks Mental Health Awareness Week 2022, which is a great opportunity to check in with yourself and your mental health.

A little reminder of things you can do to improve your mental wellbeing

Keep in Touch

The theme of Mental Health Awareness Week this year is loneliness, which can have a huge impact on our mental health. It’s really important to connect with others for emotional support and to share experiences with. Building relationships is great for your self-worth and will help you to feel loved and valued. So, make sure you make time for friends and family! It also works both ways, as they will also benefit from your support too.

Take a Break

Taking a break from stressful situations or your day-to-day routine can be hugely beneficial. You can take some ‘me time’ to relax and destress or use your time to do something new, and refresh your mind. A break can be anything from a few minutes away from your work or children to a full holiday or time away. It’s important to factor in these breaks into your daily life to help keep a balance and ensure there’s time for stress relief.

Stay Active

Exercising regularly has so many benefits! Such as keeping you healthy, releasing endorphins, boosting your self-esteem, and improving sleep. It’s a great place to start when it comes to boosting your mental wellbeing! Exercise doesn’t need to be intense, simply getting out and walking can have a positive impact. Aside from exercise, practicing new skills and hobbies has also been proven to help boost your mood.

Keep Talking

It’s surprising how much better you can feel from simply sharing how you’re feeling with someone else. Whether it’s sharing positive experiences or sharing your problems, find someone who you feel comfortable talking to. It’s even more important to have people who can support you through difficulties or when you’re feeling overwhelmed.

Organise Your Environment

A clean, tidy, and clutter-free environment can make a huge difference to your mood and productivity. You may find that the act of organising and decluttering your space can actually be a mood-booster in itself. If you’re unsure of where to start with this, one important area to consider is your bedroom as this can help improve your sleep quality and give you a nice space to relax in. Next up would be anywhere that you work or need to focus, as clutter provides distractions and can add to feeling stressed

Eat & Drink Well

Your brain functions best with a healthy, balanced diet. It’s important to ensure you’re eating the right amount to stay healthy as well as getting a range of nutrients to help your brain function. Plenty of water is essential and try to moderate your intake of caffeine and alcohol.