We are so happy that we all came this far; we can only be grateful. Our health is thriving physically, emotionally, and mentally what can we say but thank God.
Today is the last part of the ‘How to build a better mental health’ series, so we are going to give it all out to you.
This strategy is a very important one, and it is you shouldn’t skimp on sleep—it matters more than you think.
If you lead a busy life, cutting back on sleep may seem like a smart move. But when it comes to your mental health, getting enough sleep is a necessity, not a luxury. Skipping even a few hours here and there can take a toll on your mood, energy, mental sharpness, and ability to handle stress. And over the long-term, chronic sleep loss can wreak havoc on your health and outlook.
While adults should aim for seven to nine hours of quality sleep each night, it’s often unrealistic to expect sleep to come the moment you lay down and close your eyes. Your brain needs time to unwind at the end of the day. That means taking a break from the stimulation of screens—TV, phone, tablet, computer—in the two hours before bedtime, putting aside work, and postponing arguments, worrying, or brainstorming until the next day.
Tips for getting better sleep
If anxiety or chronic worrying dominates your thoughts at night, there are steps you can take to learn how to stop worrying.
To wind down, calm the mind, and prepare for sleep, try taking a warm bath, reading by a soft light, listening to soothing music, or practicing a relaxation technique before bed.
To help set your body’s internal clock and optimize the quality of your sleep, stick to a regular sleep-wake schedule, even on weekends.
Make sure your bedroom is dark, cool, and quiet. Curtains, white noise machines, and fans can help.
This strategy is the last one for the year it is the pot of gold, and it is to find purpose and meaning in life.
Everyone derives meaning and purpose in different ways that involve benefitting others, as well as yourself. You may think of it as a way to feel needed, feel good about yourself, a purpose that drives you on, or simply a reason to get out of bed in the morning. In biological terms, finding meaning and purpose is essential to brain health as it can help generate new cells and create new neural pathways in the brain. It can also strengthen your immune system, alleviate pain, relieve stress, and keep you motivated to pursue the other steps to improve mental and emotional health. However, you derive meaning and purpose in life, it’s important to do it every day.
What gives you meaning and purpose?
Engaging work that provides meaning to yourself and others; Partake in activities that challenge your creativity and make you feel productive, whether you get paid for them. Some ideas are gardening, drawing, writing, playing an instrument, or building something in your workshop.
Relationships; Spending quality time when you give of yourself to people who matter to you, whether they’re friends, grandkids, or elderly relatives, can support both your health and theirs, while also providing a sense of purpose.
Caring for a pet; Yes, pets are a responsibility, but caring for one makes you feel needed and loved. There’s no love quite as unconditional as the love a pet can give. Animals can also get you out of the house for exercise and expose you to new people and places.
Volunteering; Just as we’re hard-wired to be social, we’re also hard-wired to give to others. The meaning and purpose derived from helping others or the community can enrich and expand your life and make you happier. There’s no limit to the individual and group volunteer opportunities you can explore. Schools, churches, non-profits, and charitable organizations of all sorts depend on volunteers for their survival.
Caregiving; Taking care of an aging parent, a handicapped spouse, or a child with a physical or mental illness is an act of kindness, love, and loyalty and can be as rewarding and meaningful as it is challenging.
Before we call it a wrap for the year one bonus strategy this is also important and should not be neglected because mental health issues are not a thing to be ashamed of.
When to seek professional help
If you’ve made consistent efforts to improve your mental and emotional health and still aren’t functioning optimally at home, work, or in your relationships, it may be time to seek professional help. Following these self-help steps will still benefit you, though. In fact, input from a caring professional can often help motivate us to take better care of ourselves.
We have come to the end of this series, we would love for you always take care of yourself first and pay attention to the state of your mind, you can interact with this post by commenting below of reach out to our social media handles. Remember we at Secure Health are just a click away and don’t forget to keep glowing.
