Ten tips for best mental health

 

Introduction

Mental health is an important part of overall health. It's also a dynamic and ever-changing field, which means that there is no single prescription for best mental health. Instead, it is more about paying attention to what works for you and finding the right balance between healthy eating habits, regular exercise and adequate sleep.

Eat well

Eating a balanced diet is one of the best ways to improve your mental health. A balanced diet consists of plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and poultry, low-fat dairy products, fish and shellfish.

Eat fewer processed foods - these tend to be high in sugar or salt as well as trans fat (a type of fat that has been found to increase inflammation). Try replacing them with fresh produce instead!

Reduce your intake of saturated fat from red meat or cheese (these two sources are often high in saturated fats), but replace this portion with unsaturated forms like olive oil or canola oil instead which are healthier options for your body if consumed regularly over time

Keep in touch

Keeping in touch with your family and friends is an important part of your mental health.

• Make sure that you're staying connected with people who are important to you. If someone moves away, or dies, it can be difficult to adjust. It's best if they don't move far away; or if they do, keep up with them through email or phone calls when possible.
• Don't forget about the people who are still nearby! They might not always be nearby—but don't forget them either! You never know when life may bring another chance for reconnecting...

Be physically active

You may be surprised to learn that physical activity is one of the best ways to improve your mental health. In fact, research shows that regular physical activity can help you sleep better, lose weight and even lower your blood pressure.

Regular exercise has also been linked with lower rates of anxiety and depression in adults—and children as well! The good news? There are lots of ways to get moving: walking or jogging around the block; playing basketball; dancing at a studio class; taking up yoga or tai chi classes at home; swimming laps in your local pool…the options are endless!

If you're new to fitness activities and want some inspiration on how much exercise might work for you, try starting small by walking just 20 minutes per day (or even 10) three times per week until it becomes habit-forming over time so that it feels easier each week because now we know what works best for us individually rather than relying solely upon external factors like weather conditions etcetera...

Learn new skills

Learning new skills is a great way to keep your mind active and healthy.

It can be anything from learning a language to learning how to play an instrument, or just doing something you've always wanted to try: cooking, painting, making jewelry...the options are endless!

Learning something new can help you stay mentally fit. It will also keep your brain healthy by keeping it stimulated and challenged in different ways than usual (for example: by learning how to cook). If you're feeling down or depressed because of work stressors or relationship issues—or even if it's just because life has its ups and downs—remember that there are so many things out there waiting for us at any given time! Take advantage of these opportunities where they present themselves; otherwise they might pass us by unnoticed because we weren't looking hard enough when they were available!

Give to others

Giving to others is a good way to relieve stress and feel more connected. You can give your time, money or expertise; it's up to you!

Giving can also help you develop empathy for others who may be experiencing similar struggles in their lives. If someone gives you something of theirs and asks what they can do in return, it may be easier for you to open up and talk about how their actions affected your life as well.

Pay attention to the present moment (mindfulness)

• Pay attention to the present moment.
• Focus on your breath.
• Focus on your senses, such as touch and sight.
• Focus on your thoughts and feelings, such as how you feel sad or happy right now.
• Pay attention to physical sensations in your body like hunger pangs or a need to move around more often than usual (this can help you feel less stressed).

Accept who you are

Accepting who you are is the first step to being happy. It does not mean that you are happy with yourself, but rather that you accept who you are and where you come from.

Acceptance means recognizing that no matter what happens, there will always be challenges in life which cannot be avoided or changed. Acceptance also means accepting things as they are even though they may not be perfect or idealistic; it simply means accepting reality as it is rather than constantly trying to improve on something that isn't broken at all!

Care for others

• Give to others.
• Help others.
• Volunteer your time and talents for a cause you believe in, even if it's just giving a couple hours once a month to help clean up after someone else's party or organize an event for children with special needs (or whatever it is that makes you feel good).
• Be a good friend. This can be hard sometimes, but try not to take things personally when they aren't going as planned—and remember that everyone has ups and downs; no one is perfect all the time! If someone acts out of character toward another person during an argument or disagreement, try not take it personally at all; think about why this happened instead and try not let those feelings affect your relationship with that person anymore than necessary later on down the line."

Get plenty of sleep

Sleep is important for mental health, physical health and the immune system. It’s also important for your brain, body and heart. A lack of sleep can lead to depression or other mood disorders; poor sleep quality can affect memory and attention span—which means that it’s possible that you may have trouble concentrating if you don't get enough shuteye!

Sleep is also tied closely with weight loss in adults. Studies have shown that people who get more than eight hours of good quality shut-eye each night weigh less than those who don't hit this mark (and vice versa).

Take a break

• Take a break from your work. If you are working on something that is stressing you out, take a break for an hour or two and come back to it fresh. You’ll be better able to approach the task in a new way and with fresh eyes.
• Take a break from social media. Turn off the notifications on your phone so that it doesn't alert you when someone posts something related to what's bothering you (this will also help cut down on distractions). Then turn off all notifications altogether until after lunchtime—it can be helpful if they're still playing music through one earpiece while they talk into another one during calls!
• Take a break from emailing people who aren't important enough for replies anymore; instead focus solely on responding only when necessary by sending thank-you letters or using other methods (like scheduling meetings) instead of sending emails back and forth constantly just because someone wants their opinion heard quickly without taking time away from their own lives."

If you buy into the health gurus' recommendations of healthy eating, regular exercise and adequate sleep, you are on track for best mental health.

If you buy into the health gurus' recommendations of healthy eating, regular exercise and adequate sleep, you are on track for best mental health.

• Eating well: A balanced diet will help ensure that your brain is getting all the nutrients it needs to function properly. The best foods include whole grains like oatmeal and brown rice; fruits (especially citrus fruit); vegetables; nuts such as almonds or walnuts; fish oil supplements with EPA/DHA levels comparable to what comes from eating seafoods; tea or coffee without milk or cream added (which contains hormones that interfere with sleep patterns). You can also buy protein bars made from whey powder rather than milk powder which has been linked to breast cancer risk reduction in women who have consumed this product before their menstrual cycle begins.* Exercising regularly: Physical activity releases endorphins - chemicals produced in response to exercise - which produce feelings of euphoria while improving moods by increasing circulation throughout our bodies.* Getting enough sleep nightly: Getting less than six hours per night increases stress hormones called cortisol over the day because it leads us into fight-or-flight mode where we become anxious about things going wrong at work tomorrow morning when we need our energy reserves for dealing with these issues first thing Thursday morning before heading off into an office environment full of people who may not appreciate how much effort goes into doing good work each day despite having little appreciation themselves given their lack thereof thus making them act entitled toward those around them even though no one really knows why he behaves this way other than himself but let's talk about someone else instead...

Conclusion

I hope these tips have given you some ideas of what to do. If you are down in the dumps, don’t forget this important advice: try not to listen to your inner critic. Critical voices can be very loud and persistent, but they are not always right. Remember that there is a world outside your head that needs our attention too!