As we navigate the ups and down of our modern lives, being kind to our minds is essential for maintaining a healthy, balanced existence.
Here's a few valuable tips that can help us all to nurture our minds, reduce stress, low mood and anxiety, and promote mental wellbeing...
1. Reframe Unhelpful Thoughts
The way we think, feel and behave are linked and we can sometimes develop patterns of thoughts or behaviours that are unhelpful. Working on recognising when these come up and taking steps to try thinking about things differently or from another point of view, can really help us to improve our mental wellbeing.
2. Be In The Present
When we practice mindfulness, we enhance our ability to be fully present. This awareness of ourselves, where we are and the world around us, allows us to better notice and process our thoughts and feelings and gain a clearer perspective. Taking care of our mental health is of course an ongoing journey, and one that requires patience, self-compassion and commitment.
3. Get Good Sleep
Sleep is closely connected to our mental and emotional health and as such good-quality sleep is not to be underestimated. Good sleep doesn’t just mean lots of sleep: it means the right kind of sleep. Creating a healthy, personalised sleep routine can make a hugely beneficial impact on we feel mentally and physically.
4. Connect With Others
Spending quality time with friends, family or a like-minded community can help to prevent us from feeling lonely, help us feel supported and improve our overall mental and emotional wellbeing.
Whether in person, online, by phone or messaging, connecting with others, sharing our experiences, nurturing relationships and weaving our stories together (whenever we can / feel up to it) can bring us a lot of comfort, joy and inspiration.
5. Live A Healthier Lifestyle
A broad one here, but regularly keeping active, having a healthy and balanced diet, staying hydrated, reducing (or binning) refined sugar, caffeine, alcohol, smoking and such can have a seriously positive effect on our overall wellbeing.
6. Do Something Just For You, Every Day
Doing things, big or small, that make us feel good each day is a great way to show ourselves always-needed self-love regularly. Whether it's enjoying a hobby, taking a few extra mins on your skincare routine, learning something new, soaking in a bubble bath, enjoying a movie or taking time to chill-out however suits you best, make time just for you each day.