Living an intentional lifestyle is about carefully considering your decisions and how these choices impact your mental health. Are you looking after yourself as well as you could be? What could you do to improve next year? Considering these questions are a great start. Here are a few ideas to help you intentionally improve your life and have better mental health in 2022.
Disclaimer: This is a contributed post.
1 . Show gratitude
One of the best ways to improve your mental health is showing gratitude. Many of us dwell on the negative things that go wrong or the things we don’t have. This type of attitude only makes us feel worse about our problems. Expressing gratitude is a great way to lift your spirits. It allows you to focus on the positive things in your life and say thank you to the people you appreciate. When you express gratitude, you can live a happier lifestyle. If you need a little inspiration, try the ‘Grateful’ journal.
2. Start meditating
Meditation is the act of training the mind or calming the body. Buddhists have practised it for centuries, but it is gaining popularity in Western countries. Studies show that meditation can reduce blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease.
Studies show that meditation is a fantastic way to improve your mental health. Mediating can help you to de-stress, relax, focus and unwind. There are many different types of meditation; some styles focus on clearing the mind, while others focus on a particular theme. To help you make a start, the Meditopia app is a fantastic tool.
3. Improve your diet
Your mental and physical health are connected, so you can lift your spirits by eating the right foods. Avoid too much junk foods and focus on healthy foods and ‘mood-boosting foods’. Experimenting with new recipes can be plenty of fun, so why not purchase a few healthy cookbooks? According to Delish some of the best healthy cookbooks right now include:
- Vegetable Kingdom By Bryant Terry
- Ottolenghi Simple By Yotam Ottolenghi
- The Anti Inflammation Cookbook By Dr Bradly Jacobs
4. Self-care
To take better care of your mental health, what you need is a great self-care regime. There are plenty of activities that you can do to de-stress and put your mental health first. Try traditional practices like massages, aromatherapy, and long hot baths. Consider a yoga practice or spending time amongst nature. For other self-care ideas, try the following:
- Try something creative whether it’s poetry or painting.
- Improve your fitness regime with a new sports hobby.
- Visit art exhibitions or museums.
- Keep a personal development journal.
- Take herbal supplements to boost your mood.
5. Identify triggers
When you’re considering your mental health, it can be helpful to identify your triggers. What are the things that are making you feel stressed out? How can you put strategies in place to deal with these things? There are many different triggers for stress, whether it’s the breakdown of a marriage, financial issues, or a whole host of other life events that you find difficult to cope with. The more you know about the problems, the better you will be able to deal with them. To support you through tough times like these, it can be helpful to work with Family Solicitors.
Mental health issues are not something that can be ignored. They can make life difficult and affect our relationships with those around us and the quality of our day-to-day experiences. It is essential to know how to deal with mental health issues positively by reducing stress and anxiety, getting enough sleep, exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Use these five steps to boost your mental health in the new year. Improving your health can take a little time, and you might need a little support from others, but these five steps to better mental health in 2022 will get you set on the right path.
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