May is Mental Health Month and this year’s theme is “Where to Start: Mental Health in a Changing World.” The world is constantly changing and it can be overwhelming to deal with everything going on around you. Being able to maintain good mental health is vital to your overall health and well-being. Did you know that 1 in 5 Americans experience a mental health challenge in any given year? Let’s look at some ways to maintain positive mental health and reduce your risk for experiencing a mental health challenge.
10 Tips for Positive Mental Health
Eat healthy foods.
Fill yourself with foods that give your body energy and are nutritious!
Go outside!.
Get some fresh air. Take a walk in the sunshine. Get some exercise.
Rest.
Make sure to reset every night. Wind down by drinking a cup of water and dimming your lights. Set your phone to “do not disturb” and get a good night’s sleep.
Stay connected with others.
Plan a night with friends. Invite a friend over to watch a basketball game. Call a loved one.
Think positive thoughts.
Change your stinking thinking!! Instead of questioning yourself, remind yourself that you CAN do hard things! Change your “ifs” to “when” and your “mights” to “wills.”
Take a deep breath.
Practice deep breathing, yoga, meditation, or progressive muscle relaxation. Your body AND your mind will thank you.
HALT.
Before you get upset, ask yourself – “Am I Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired?” If you are any of these things, pause and take care of those needs first before getting upset with yourself or others.
Change your environment.
Surround yourself with positive people and things. Move your office to a room with more sunlight, or get a desk plant. Brighten up your space and play some soothing music.
Give back.
Find a way to help others. Open doors for people, return your grocery cart, volunteer at a pet shelter, or raise money for a great cause. Whatever you do, do it with joy.
Seek help.
If you are struggling to manage difficulty feelings and they don’t seem to go away on their own, reach out for help. Visit your local mental health office or dial 988 on your cell phone.
This May, focus on taking care of your mind, and don’t forget to share these tips with others so that we can all work on improving our mental health! For additional mental health resources, or to learn more about Mental Health Month, visit https://www.mhanational.org/mental-health-month.
Resources
FREE Mental Health Month Calendar – https://mhanational.org/sites/default/files/MHM/2024/toolkit/Poster-Calendar.pdf
FREE Mental Health America Screening Tool – www.mhascreening.org
4 THINGS LIKELY AFFECTING YOUR MENTAL HEALTH, AND 4 THINGS YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT – https://mhanational.org/sites/default/files/MHM/2024/toolkit/4-things-fact-sheet.pdf
