5 things that zap your mental health and five things that will restore it

5 ways to restore your mental well-being.

Like any aspect of your health, mental health needs to be nurtured to maintain a healthy mind. Practicing these five small habits on World Mental Health Day and every day can help build up your happiness ‘quotient’ and restore your mental well-being.

1. Expect happy moments, not ‘happily ever after.’

The notion that being happy all the time translates to good mental health is a myth. There is no state of happiness that you get to and then sustain ‘ever after.’ Happiness is just one of seven basic emotions we can experience throughout a typical day. But you can cultivate more happiness by enjoying everyday moments and looking for the positive elements in any situation instead of the negative.

five things that zap your mental health and five things that restore it

2. Stand up straight and smile.

It’s easier said than done at times when you may not be in the mood to smile. But you can trick your brain into feeling happier and boosting your mental health just by making minor body adjustments. Smiling, standing up straight instead of slouching, slowing your breathing, and even changing the tone of your voice releases a surge of chemicals in your brain that can lift your mood and make you feel more confident.

3. Get active.

Adding some form of exercise to your schedule just three times a week will decrease the risk of being depressed by 19 percent, according to a study in JAMA Psychiatry. Furthermore, people who were depressed were less likely to be active, but those who were active experienced a 6 percent decrease in their depression risk.

4. Get a good night’s sleep regularly.

Sleep affects every aspect of your life and is one of the essential factors in maintaining good mental health. Sleep problems are prevalent in patients with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). If you’re having problems with sleeping, talking to a therapist can help you develop helpful sleep hygiene habits.

5. Connect with people.

Good mental health is the ability to form and maintain good relationships with others. While nothing beats face-to-face interactions, even virtual ‘get togethers’ with family or friends can help improve your mental state and increase your feelings of connectedness. If possible and safe, meet in ‘real time’ in an outdoor, socially distanced environment to get the added mental health benefit of being outdoors in nature.

Whether it’s everyday stress or an unexpected crisis, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. These five steps can make it easier to go through the day with a more contented outlook. And if you need help in facing life’s challenges, MDLIVE board-certified psychiatrists and licensed therapists are here to help. Start a visit and see how MDLIVE online therapy works here.