6 ways to look after your mental health

Did you know that 1 in 3 GP visits are mental health related? It is important to look after your mental health. 

Remember, anyone anywhere can be affected by mental health.

Here are 6 tips for taking care of your mental health: 

Stay active 

Getting enough exercise is not only good for your mental health but helps keep your brain active. This can boost your concentration, self-esteem and help you get a better night sleep. 

Why not go for a walk during the day or take part in some sports such as swimming, tennis etc? 

Go for walk, visit the gym or take part in some sports to keep your brain active.

Take some time for yourself 

Take some time during the day to do something that you want to do even if it’s just for 20 minutes. Perhaps you could watch your favourite TV show, listen to some music, sit and relax or take part in one of your favourite hobbies. 

Taking some time to yourself can help you relax and de-stress. 

Eat Properly 

Eating well benefits your mental health just as much as your physical health. Your brain also needs a healthy diet in order to function properly. 

Eat plenty of fruit and veg, drink lots of water and eat enough whole grain and dairy. Try not to eat or drink too much sugar or caffeine especially just before bedtime. 

Stay connected with others 

Keep in touch with family and friends and spend time with them. Surround yourself with people who can make you happy, laugh and smile. Maintaining positive relationships can boost your confidence, mood and self-esteem. 

Stay connected with family and friends. Why not have a get together for a catch-up, movie night, pizza party or another activity you can all do together?

Use the internet and social media properly 

Negative use of social media and seeing harmful content online is a huge contributor to mental health problems. Whilst staying connected with others is important and social media is a good way of contacting others, social media can also have negative aspects. These include cyberbullying, depression and anxiety, isolation and fear of missing out.

Try to use the internet positively, safely and sensibly. Ignore and delete any messages that you find annoying or upsetting and block users who post content you don’t like. Do not respond to any nasty or inappropriate messages. Take plenty of breaks from social media as well and switch off your notifications. 

You can read more about responsible use of social media here 

Seek help if you need it 

If you feel that you need help please don’t be afraid to ask for it. There are plenty of people out there who can offer help and support including family, friends, teachers, colleagues, your GP or local services such as counselling or support groups. 

Remember it’s ok not to be ok