How To Improve Your Mental Health

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Your mind is just as important as your body, so don't overlook it. There are many ways to keep on top of your mental health - here are just a few.


Eat healthy

Ever heard the saying a healthy body makes a healthy mind? - Well, it is so true! What you eat has a huge impact on your mood, so if you're feeling particularly low all of a sudden and aren't sure why, have a look back at your diet and see if you've been eating too much of something that you wouldn't usually.
A lot of people find eating healthily to be too much hassle - having to prepare all the fresh ingredients takes time, and if you're a busy Mom, then it just adds to the other many things you have to worry about. Whereas as fast food only takes a few minutes to arrive and you don't have to do anything. Right, that's what people think, but there's a whole bunch of easy, healthy meals that just about anyone can make, and don't take up your precious time.
As well as eating right, you should also be staying hydrated. Water is like pure gold, our body needs this to look and feel better. We were once told that we should be drinking at least eight glasses of water a day. But health experts now tell us at least ten to twelve!



Watch what you drink

A lot of people like to enjoy a glass of something a little stronger on the weekends, or at parties, not only to be social but because it can change your mood and make you feel better, although the effect is only temporary. (This includes coffee!) 
Drinking in moderation is fine, so if you look forward to a couple of glasses of wine or a pint or to on a Friday night, there's nothing to worry about. But if you're drinking a lot more than that, and only to change the way you feel, then there might be a problem, and the more you actually drink to feel happier - the worse you'll end up feeling once the alcohol has worn off.
If you feel like you may need some help because you drink a lot more than you should, there are alcohol addiction resources that can guide you in the right direction.


Get your body moving

Did you know that it's not just physically that you benefit from exercise? Oh no, it goes a lot deeper than that. Ever heard of endorphins? Well, these are the chemicals that your body creates and then releases in your brain that make you feel great, and it's totally free! All you have to do is workout a little, you don't even need to sign up to a gym (unless you'd like to,) but it can be as simple as walking, running or cycling to your destination instead of driving or getting on the bus. Or dancing, and who doesn't love a good boogie once in awhile? Or even just cleaning the house - why not make it fun with a bit of your favorite music? Anyone that tells you cleaning isn't a workout have obviously never cleaned a house before - let alone one with kids in it!


Have a change of scenery

It's very easy to get stuck in the habit of things and then not bothering to change anything, but this could be playing a big part into why you're feeling down. Being in the same place, seeing the same things every day can definitely have a negative effect on your mood.
Now this doesn't mean you need to cash out on a super fancy holiday (although that doesn't hurt once in awhile!) But even just going for a long walk, or driving half an hour to a new destination and exploring can really help.


Open up

Thanks to the technology and social media we have today, it has never been easier to stay in touch with our family and friends. Feeling connected, being a part of something, and just generally being social is what we need as a human being - we crave it. So if you're locked away in a room all by yourself, it's normal you're not going to feel very happy, and you will definitely start to feel an effect on your mental health.
You should never feel alone; there are always people around that you can talk to. If you can't go to a friend, go to a family member, and vice versa, and if you can't go to either - that's what a doctor is there for, or even help groups, whether that be in person or online.
Help is always there if you need it.
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