10 of the Best Tips to Look After Your Mental Health #MHAW2017

This week officially marks Mental Health Awareness Week. The theme this year is to uncover why too few of us are thriving with good mental health.

The fact that Mental Health Awareness Week falls in the midst of exam season is especially prominent, as it is a time where young people need to be looking after themselves and looking after their friends.

So today, we thought we’d share 10 of the best ways you can look after your own mental health and the wellbeing of people you know, too.

1# Talk about your feelings. It’s very important that you don’t keep your feelings to yourself. Remember the saying: a problem shared is a problem halved.

2# Keep active. Exercise isn’t just good for the body – it’s also good for the mind. It relieves stress, improves memory, helps you sleep better and boosts your overall mood. It doesn’t have to mean joining the gym. A walk is all you need.

3# Eat well. Diet is also just as important to mental health as it is physical health. An unhealthy diet is a risk factor for depression and anxiety – whereas a healthy diet is more protective. Put good food into your body and the better your will feel.

4# Take a break. Just a few minutes can be enough to de-stress yourself. It could be a five minute pause on your morning journey, half an hour on your lunch break or a weekend exploring somewhere new. Listen to your body.

5# Drink more water. You might think an energy drink or fizzy pop can help you become more alert, but it actually disrupts your body’s ability to rest, meaning your body has to work harder to break this down in your system. Stick to clean, healthy fluids like water.

6# Do something you’re good at. What makes you feel really good? What can you do with ease? By making yourself feel good, you’re promoting physiological changes in the brain associated with happiness. These are followed by longer periods of calm and can lead to better wellbeing.

7# Keep in touch. It might not always be possible face-to-face, but you can give friends or family a call, a text or chat to them online. Communication is very good for you!

8# Accept who you are. We’re all different. Feeling good about yourself boosts your confidence and makes you happier with your overall life. Good self-esteem will always help you.

9# Ask for help. You don’t have to do everything on your own. If things are getting too much for you or you feel like you can’t cope, ask for help. There are lots of people there for you, from your family and friends, to staff at Cardinal Newman.

10# Care for others. This is a really important part of buildings relationships and can even strengthen your friendships. Helping someone will uplift you and that’s a feeling you can always carry with you.