Celebrate Mental Health Awarness Month with these tips for your mental well-being!
Staying happy and healthy is a necessary, but sometimes neglected part of life. Staying healthy means managing your physical health, but also your mental health. When you maintain good mental health you can handle stress better, build stronger relationships, and enjoy life more.
May is National Mental Health Awareness Month and to celebrate The American College for Medical Careers is sharing six tips to help students and graduates manage their mental health.
1. Discover your world
Help cure your blues by getting outside and exploring the world on a small or large scale. You could go for a walk in your neighborhood or check out a new location. If you get out of the house or change familiar patterns, you can experience new and exciting interests. Try something that is out of the ordinary for you, or challenges you. When you motivate yourself for personal growth and open up to new perspectives, you can reap the benefits of better mental health.
Never underestimate the power of positivity. If you keep a positive attitude toward others, you can increase your chances of handling negative situations better. Staying positive can be hard at times. Sometimes, it’s natural to feel sad or mad, process your emotions, then focus on a solution. One way to focus on a solution to problems is to acknowledge the negative situations with a positive attitude. Here are some ways you can stay positive throughout the day:
- Value yourself
- Do positive things for others
- Say positive affirmations
- Focus on your best qualities
- Don’t dwell on negative situations
Physical activity can help you increase your mental health. Endorphins, chemicals that stimulate feelings of relaxation and reduce pain. Start by exercising at least three times a week for 30-60 minutes. Stimulating your body can also help stimulate your mind. Physical activity helps oxygen revive your brain cells and muscles. You can incorporate fun exercises into your routine so working out is easier for you. Try fun activities like dancing, yoga, biking, hiking, or aerobics. Exercising before work or school will help prepare your brain stay alert and prepared for the day ahead.
4. Manage your finances
Stress over your finances can decrease your mental health. Constant worrying over where your basic living expenses comes from next can make it harder for your to enjoy life. Try to budget your spending so you can maintain a stress-free mind every month. Make sure you put aside money for your bills, so don’t have to worry about reoccurring debt. Remember, that if you deferr a credit card bill, it will accrue interest next month, costing you even more money!
5. Relieve your stress
Stress relief is a major component of good mental health. Stressing about expenses, school, or work frequently can take a serious toll on your well-being. Make sure to take some time for yourself and destress. There are several ways you can reduce stress and spend time relaxing and making yourself feel happy.
Try these tips:
- Get a massage
- Listen to music
- Cook your favorite meal
- Spend time with friends and family
- Read a book
- Watch a funny movie
- Take up a new hobby
- Schedule time to relax
- Be kind to yourself
6. Find the source of any unhappiness
Sit down and make a list of what makes you happy and what makes you unhappy. See if you problems are situational or deeper, on-going issues. If you have psychological problems that stem from the past then perhaps it’s time to deal with your problems so you can start feeling happier. Try finding an affordable psychologist so you can work through any motional or mental problems.
If you have prolonged depression or mental illness, then contact your physician so you can get your mental health on the right track. At ACMC, we want you to live a healthy physical and mental life. These tips can help you manage your stress and well-being so you can be the happiest version of yourself!