More mental health tips

_Elsa_

'Mix up your routine: I’m all for schedules and planning out your days down to the minute in order to increase productivity, but sometimes we need to shake it up in order to avoid complete monotony. When we only follow a strict schedule (i.e. take the same route to work, order from the same restaurant every Tuesday, go to the gym at the same time every day) we can fall into the trap of leading a boring life. This can lead to poorer mental wellness, specifically leaning into the depression realm. When you spice things up a bit (try a new restaurant or go for a run instead of going to the gym) it can bring freshness and a little bit of a pick-me-up to your life.

Increase activity and exercise: When people are physically active and partake in any form of exercise, it not only improves your physical health, it also causes an increase in mental wellness. When we exercise or are active in any way, dopamine is released and increases/improves our mood and has been shown to eliminate lower mood, anxiety and stress as well. Get up and get active to keep that mind right!

Tiffi tries to do jumping jacks. And a one ............ and a two.......... She's not in good shape because she's getting tired already.

Keep up with good sleep hygiene: Sleep is a sneaky player in the mental wellness game. It is recommended that people get at least 8 hours of sleep per night. I know, I know. We get very busy and sometimes sleep takes the back burner and drops low on the priority list. It is important, however, to try your absolute best to get 8 hours as much as possible because fatigue can set in and negatively impact both your physical and mental wellness. Running on empty can lead to a slippery slope and fatigue is NO JOKE.

Avoid alcohol in excess: You’ve probably heard it before (maybe repressed it for some reason) but people should avoid drinking in excess and should lean more toward moderation (this is directed toward people of legal drinking age, of course). Drinking too often can cause higher levels of anxiety and depression which can cause a downward spiral in your mental wellness. Don’t take this as me saying you have to completely cut alcohol out of your life but try to consider the negative impacts that alcohol can have on your mental wellness before drinking in excess.

Perform random acts of kindness: I think people can agree that there is a positive impact that doing things for others has on our mental wellness. When we perform random acts of kindness or just acts of kindness in general, we tend to feel better about ourselves and our self-esteem can spike. Try volunteering somewhere or helping an elderly neighbor around their house. Be kind and good things will follow!’ (Source)

That’s about it! Tiffi has had more than enough information to fill her head. It’s time to get dinner ready for her and her father.

Let’s continue - World Health Day 2021 - Building a fairer, healthier world

Start at the beginning – Tiffi goes on a health kick