Health is not merely about the physical effects you experience on a day to day basis. How you feel mentally is just as important as how you feel physically. If you’ve been neglecting this area of your wellness routine, it’s time for a real change. Boost your mental wellbeing in no time with these science-backed ideas:
Eat more fruit and vegetables
While you may not realize it, the food that you eat has a direct impact on your mental wellbeing. In fact, a study by the University of Warwick found that 31.4% of people with a good mental health ate three to four portions of fruit and vegetables per day. What’s more, a further 28% of those with a high level of wellbeing ate around one to two portions. The takeaway is simple. Including these vitamin-rich foods in your diet could help to boost your mental state.
Set realistic goals (and stick to them)
The small, simple lifestyle choices are just as important as big overhauls when it comes to your mental health. Advice from the University Health Service at the University of Michigan suggests setting achievable goals and following through with them.
For instance, if your goal is to maintain a healthy weight, track your progress at home with an accurate bathroom scale to help you achieve just that. Monitoring your weight on a weekly or bi-monthly basis will give you a clear idea of how much you’re gaining or losing, as will keeping standard body measurements (i.e. waist, hips, thighs, arms, chest, etc).
Consider joining a sports club
Should you wish to take things to a whole new level, you may even want to consider joining a sports club. A review by the Medical University of Vienna suggests that taking part in a sporting group activity could have a highly positive effect on a person’s wellbeing. The physical activity will increase your weekly exercise and the social interaction with teammates will help combat loneliness and depression. Since having a strong social network is a major coping mechanism, it’s no wonder that this technique works.
Get a better night’s sleep
Sleep deprivation is a growing problem for many people, both young and old. If you find that you struggle to sleep each night, you may need to look into the ways in which you can combat the problem sooner rather than later. The more sleep you get, the happier you will ultimately be according to the findings from a University of Warwick study. The psychologists claim that getting more high-quality sleep can be as beneficial to your health and happiness as winning the lottery. So, it could be worth hitting the hay earlier tonight!
Final Thoughts
Remember, improving your mental health is an ongoing process. Once you make these small lifestyle changes, you will surely start to see some improvements in how you feel. However, that doesn’t mean that you should give up and leave it at that. In truth, you should always be searching for new ways in which you can improve your wellness and ensure that you have a healthy mental state. Take the first steps today!