How to Support your Mental health when you Feel like Times are Tough

In Family, Tips & Advice by JennaLeave a Comment

If you feel as though times are tough right now, then you may not know what to do or where to turn. This is understandable, but there are things that you can do to try and turn things around. In fact, by taking action now, you can support your mental wellbeing and your emotional health, which is just as important as your physical health. Take a look below to find out more.

Seek a Social Connection

One way for you to support your mental health would be for you to seek a social connection. Phone calls and even social media do have their place in your life, but they should not be chosen over a physical, face-to-face connection. This will help you to relieve stress and it will also help you to connect with someone on a deeper level. Sure, talking to someone about the problems you are having is difficult, and sometimes you may feel as though your problems are insignificant when compared to theirs. This is not true though, and most of the time, people will be there to support you if you simply let them. This is one of the best ways for you to benefit your mental health and you would be surprised at how much it could help you to support yourself in the future.

Be Active

Being active is super important. It’s good for your brain and it is also very good for your body. Regular workouts can boost your mental health as well as your emotional health. On top of this, it helps to improve your memory while aiding with sleep. Studies have shown that exercise can help you to raise your self-esteem and it can also help you to set goals and challenges. By achieving those goals, you can get your life on a positive track. If you want to start exercising or if you wouldn’t class yourself as being “fit and active” then it’s important to find activities that you enjoy. It may be that you begin with a couch to 5K challenge, or that you simply look into swimming or dancing. Do not feel like you need to spend hours on end in the gym, and do not force yourself to do things that you won’t enjoy just because you think it’s good for you. If you do, then it will have the opposite impact, and this is the last thing that you need. If you struggle to be active because of a health condition, then speak to your doctor first. If you have undergone surgery and have an injury as a result, you could talk with a medical malpractice attorney.

Learn New Skills

Research has shown that learning a new skill can improve your wellbeing. It can boost your self-confidence and it can also help you to find a new sense of purpose. It can aid you with connecting with others and even if you do not feel as though you have the time, you’ll soon find that there are numerous ways for you to try and add learning to your life. Some of the things that you can do happen to include cooking something new, taking on an additional responsibility at work or even trying to work on a project at home. This could be something as simple as fixing your garden gate or an old bike. There are so many video tutorials online and when you begin to use them to your advantage, you’ll soon find that you can boost your confidence and your self-esteem. It’s vital to remember that you do not have to undergo an exam or a new qualification for something that doesn’t interest you, in fact, this could do you more harm than good. Learning something new should be about furthering your own goals, and not about trying to look good on paper.

Volunteer your Time

Research has shown that the simple act of giving or kindness can help you to improve your mental wellbeing more than most people realize. You may find that you can create a positive feeling as well as a sense of reward. You may also find that it helps you to connect with others. Some examples include saying thank you to someone and showing your appreciation if they have done something for you, or even asking your family how they are, and truly listening to them when they reply. Spending time with your friends, who you might not have seen in a while is also a very good thing to do. If you want to take things to that next level or if you feel as though you have more time to give then it could be wise for you to try and volunteer for a charity. There is most likely a soup kitchen or a food bank in your area that could do with the support, and if you are willing to help them then you could be changing the lives of others. Believe it or not, things like this remain to be one of the best ways for you to get in touch with the local community, and it also helps you to put your own life into perspective.

Be in the Moment

Paying more attention to the current moment could easily help you to rocket your mental health. You need to try and pay attention to your thoughts and the way that you feel. You also need to listen to the world around you, as well as your own body. Some people refer to this as awareness, but it can also be mindfulness. This is essentially where you understand yourself better and it can change the way that you feel about certain situations. Another benefit of mindfulness is that it can change the way that you approach challenges. If you want to find out more about this, or if you want to take steps in the right direction then yoga is a great place to start. You can also try meditation.

Focus on your Senses

Do you love music? Then why not focus on listening to a nice, uplifting song. Maybe you enjoy squeezing a stress ball, either way, you need to do what makes you feel good. You might also want to take a walk through nature if you feel as though this would help you to feel more grounded. Either way, finding out what works for you is important because it helps you to take your mind away from the stress you are experiencing. It also allows you to feel the present moment, which if you are struggling with your mental health, is one of the best things that you can do.

Eat a Good Diet

Food can support your mood in more ways than you realize. It’s vital that you focus on eating foods that are rich in Omega-3, purely because it helps you to fuel your brainpower. If you can eat more almonds, walnuts, cashews or even blueberries, then this will really help you. Eating fish is also a very good thing as it is packed with so many vitamins and minerals. If you are not quite sure how to cook fish, or if you struggle in the kitchen then don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Consider using a bake in the bag recipe, or explore easier ways to prepare your meals so you do not end up adding more stress to your day. This is a very good way of making sure that you make positive changes across the board, without compromising your mental health by taking on too much.

 

 

 

Meet the Author | Jenna


Jenna Greenspoon is a mom & stepmom to 4 kids between the ages of 8 and 13. She loves staying up to date on all things kids and makes sure she is on point with the latest childhood trends! She is the owner of Savvy Sassy Moms and manages a team of creative contributors that work hard to keep moms up to date on the latest trends. Jenna loves social media and works on a variety of social media campaigns with brands big and small. Connect with Savvy Sassy Moms on Instagram

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