5 Ways To Improve Your Mental Health

Written By Lewis Robinson / Reviewed By Ray Spotts

Just as you take steps to protect your physical health, it's equally important that you take care of your mental health as well. Here are five ways to improve your mental health this year so you can live as the best version of yourself.

Eat Healthy To Improve Your Mental Health

While eating a nutrient-rich diet can benefit your physical health by reducing disease risk, aiding with weight loss and lowering blood pressure, eating well can also benefit your mental health. Many studies have found that diet and mood are closely related. For example, eating a diet low in sugar can improve your mood, while eating foods rich in vitamins D, C and E can improve your memory.

This is because serotonin, the neurotransmitter that's responsible for regulating mood, sleep and relaxation, is mainly produced in the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, it's essential that you provide your body with essential nutrients that can be found in fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Although it's perfectly fine to treat yourself once in a while, try to stay away from refined sugar, processed food and food high in saturated or trans fats. These can cause inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, which can negatively affect your energy level and mood.

Take Supplements To Improve Your Mental Health

If you're interested in an alternative to medication, supplements can be a great option to improve your mental health. Herbal supplements such as valerian, St. John's wort and gingko biloba have been used for hundreds of years to treat mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.

In addition, many studies have found that CBD oil can be an effective treatment for anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Even if you don't have a diagnosed mental health condition, supplements can be a great way to boost your mood, improve your sleep or provide relief from anxiety or stress.

Exercise To Improve Your Mental Health

Although it may be hard to push yourself to be active when you're feeling anxious or depressed, exercising is a great way to enhance your mood, promote relaxation and improve your sleep quality. Various studies have shown that exercise is comparable to antidepressants for people with anxiety and depression. However, it's important that you don't push yourself too hard if you're not ready.

Going for a brisk walk or taking a hike are both great ways to get your body moving, and you won't feel like you're overexerting yourself. The key is to find an activity that you truly enjoy so that it'll be easy to add to your daily routine rather than feeling like it's a chore. Try to aim for about 30 minutes of exercise a day to reap the full benefits.

Start Journaling To Improve Your Mental Health

It's common to write in a diary when you're young, but many people discontinue this practice once they become adults. However, recording your feelings in a journal is a great way to gain self-awareness of your emotions and understand them more clearly. Many studies have shown that journaling can reduce anxiety, decrease stress and boost your mood.

Try to set aside some time to write every day, even if it's just a few minutes. Keep a journal by your bed so that you remember to write. It's important to understand that there are no rules when it comes to journaling. Simply writing down what you're feeling or what's been weighing on your mind recently is enough to benefit your mental health and well-being.

Seek Help To Improve Your Mental Health

If you've tried to improve your mental health on your own but aren't seeing any progress, don't be afraid to reach out for help. Contrary to popular belief, seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Speaking to a professional can help you determine a treatment that's most effective for you and allow you to get your life back on track.

It can seem overwhelming to try to figure out how to improve your mental health, as there are many factors that contribute to your mood. Following these five tips can improve your well-being and allow you to live a happy, rewarding life.

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Written By:

Lewis Robinson is a freelance writer and expert in health and fitness. When he isn’t writing he can usually be found reading a good book or hitting the gym.

Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash