Tips to stay mentally healthy

MOST people struggle with their mental health at some point in their life, some more than others.

There are little things you do in your daily life that may not be helping. Then again, there are also small steps you can take and new habits you can make that have been proven to help keep us mentally healthy and happy.

The good news is that these are changes that can be easily incorporated into your daily life, and they may make a huge difference too.

Here are some ways you can improve your mental health with everyday habits.

Walk tall A study has found that by actively trying to walk tall with your head held high and shoulders back, you’re more likely to experience good moods.

If you walk with your shoulders slouched, you’re more likely to focus on negatives rather than positives, Time reports.

Stop taking pictures of everything You may think photographing moments makes you more likely to remember them, but a study published in Psychological Science suggests otherwise.

If you do still want to snap your lunch or view (for Instagram, obviously), make sure you focus on your subjects.

Exercise Exercising three times a week decreases your risk of being depressed by 19%, according to a study by University College London.

Researchers found that active people are less likely to be depressed and depressed people are less likely to be active.

Stop procrastinating The longer you put off a task because you’re afraid or anxious about doing it, the more nerve-racking – and potentially debilitating – it can be.

Ease your stress by listening to music or exercising, then tackle the task head-on.

End a toxic relationship Being in a relationship with someone who constantly puts you down can knock away at your self-esteem without you realising, ultimately making you anxious and potentially depressed.

Listen to your friends’ and family’s concerns about your partner if they have any, and read up on the signs of an abusive relationship.

Make time for yourself Between friends, family and work, keeping everyone happy can mean you neglect yourself and never have any me-time.

Make time to be alone and do things for yourself, as this helps keep anxiety and depression at bay.

Sleep more Your body can’t function properly if you don’t get enough sleep. If you’re struggling to sleep, try and workout why and seek help if you can’t.

Timeout from digital devices Smartphones, tablets and laptops can overstimulate our brains, and if you never take any time out from them, you won’t be doing your mental health any favours.

Take a mini digital detox every week, even if it is just for half a day or a couple of hours.

Stop multitasking Eating your lunch while sending emails may not seem too dangerous, but multitasking has actually been shown to make us more stressed.

Instead, focus on the one thing you’re doing and what’s going on around you. – The Independent