Search Here

You've heard of a mental health day, right? The fact it exists means enough goes on in your life that sometimes your brain just needs to step away. It's no secret that looking after your mental health is a big part of your overall health. If you're busy, though, that can be difficult.

Fortunately, there are little things you can do that will give your mental health a bump in the right direction. Give these tips a shot and you could start seeing the effects today.

1. Practice Stress-Free Spending

Keeping tabs on your money is important. Thankfully, it doesn't have to be stressful. If you have quick, easy access to your cash, that's one less thing to worry about. Choosing mobile banking can give your mental health a boost.

Instead of fighting lines at the bank, you can access your funds directly from a smartphone app. With one tap, you can see your account balance - no more guesstimating if you have enough money for a purchase. Mobile banking also helps you save money. Pad your account with fee-free debit cards and round-up savings that add to your rainy-day fund.

2. Grab a Coffee

If you aren't sipping on a cup of coffee in the morning already, consider giving it a try. Coffee is a great eye-opener, but it can do more than wash away your grogginess. 

That mug of java could help keep depression symptoms under better control. Many coffee drinkers say it helps with concentration and energy. Need to avoid caffeine? No problem. Try green tea as an alternative. It can lower your levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. 

3. Shake Your Groove Thing

That's right - get up and dance! No need to wait for your favorite song at the club - you can dance anywhere. Put on some music and try some fancy footwork while you clean up. Do a few twirls while you cook. Get bopping while you get ready in the morning.

With your favorite music and your best moves, you can find your mental happy place. Dancing does two things for you. It lowers your cortisol levels (goodbye to stress!), and it releases your endorphins, those "feel good" chemicals that make you happier. It's time to get steppin'!

4. Get Prepared

Have you ever noticed how stressed and flustered you feel when you leave things to the last minute? You can easily erase all that eleventh-hour running around from your mental plate with a little prep work.

Spend a few minutes every evening getting things ready for the next day. Choose your outfit. Pack a lunch. Put your keys by the door or on a hook. If you're traveling, get everything except your morning essentials packed. You'll be less rushed and can stay mentally calm when you get up. 

5. Be Thankful

Sometimes this is hard. Take time to reflect on what happened at the end of each day. Even if it's small, there's at least one good thing to remember. Maybe the sunrise was particularly beautiful, or your commuter train came on time. Whatever it is, keeping your eye on what's good in the world can help change your outlook. 

Keep a gratitude journal to record the positives in your life. Before you go to bed, jot down your thoughts about the day's high spots. Over time, you may focus more on the positives and let the negatives slip away. That's a huge plus for your mental health.

6. Put the Phone Down

Don't worry - it's still OK to call your family and friends. Stepping away from social media and taking an internet break is a great idea, though. It's easy to spend hours scrolling aimlessly through posts. Unfortunately, it eats up time for things you need and want to do in real life.  

Breaking this habit can be hard, but it's doable. Consider turning off your email and social media notifications. Set a time limit for surfing the web or reading comments on a news story (talk about stressing yourself out!). Most importantly, don't let your phone disrupt your sleep. Turn on the "Do Not Disturb" function so you won't hear pings all night.

7. Get Physical

Exercise can be your best friend when you're in a mental health rut. As we mentioned earlier, physical activity can flush away your stress and kick-start your endorphins. Many people who work out regularly say it improves their thinking and their mood, too. 

Try to set aside at least 20 minutes daily (30 minutes if you can) to break a sweat. Take a walk or run at lunch. Do floor exercises at home after work. Choose the long route and take the stairs while you're at the office. Soon both your body and mind will feel better.

8. Be Kind to Yourself

A big part of your mental health revolves around how you treat your body. If you don't take care of it, you won't feel the greatest. Give your body the white-glove treatment. Both it and your brain will thank you. 

You've heard these tips before, but they're important to remember. If you smoke, kick the cig habit. Stay hydrated; that means about 16 cups of water a day for men and 12 cups for women. Get enough shut-eye, too, around 8 hours if you can. There's research that shows being sleep-deprived can lead to depression. Additionally, feed your body well with lots of fruits, veggies, and lean meats. 

There's no magic spell to automatically boost your mental health but practicing these steps daily can go a long way. Just remember to keep at it and concentrate on the positives in your life. Before you know it, you'll be in a happier mood on the regular.