Top 10 Mental Health and Wellbeing Tips

The following tips are “right” for me after many years of trying different strategies. The quality of your mental health is a reflection of the wellbeing and self-care habits you have.

Right Sleep

Sleep is the MOST important mental health habit you can build. It’s the foundation upon which all of the other mental health tips are built upon. Aim for 8+ hours! It has an enormous impact on our physical and mental health.

To help you get the best sleep:

  • Turn off digital objects and electronic screens at least 1 hour before you go to bed.
  • If you have trouble falling asleep try turning down the lights 30 minutes before you go into bed.
  • Remember that caffeine in soft drinks coffee or tea can keep some people up at night.
  • Create a night-time routine so you have good sleep consistency. This helps you experience quality sleep. Check out the sleep cycle app to help you wake up when you are coming out of your deep sleep.

Right Morning Routine

The way you start the day sets the tone for the rest of the day.

Experiment with different morning routines until you find the combination that works best for you.

Try some of these morning habits:

  • Exercising
  • Eating well
  • Having a good mindset to the day
  • Being mindful

Right Exercise

Most of us know the many physical benefits of exercise: weight control, lower blood pressure, reduced risk of diabetes, and increased energy, just to name a few. There is no shortage of mental benefits of exercise also.

Here are some to think about:

  • Help for depression and anxiety
  • Decreased stress
  • Increased self-esteem and self-confidence
  • Better sleep
  • Brain boost

Right Eating

I’ve really experimented with Right Eating! What I’ve learned is that what’s right for one may not be right for another. Having said that “eating clean” has helped me enormously.

The fundamentals of eating clean encourage you to consume:

  • More whole foods such as fruits
  • Vegetables
  • Lean proteins
  • Whole grains and healthy fats
  • Limit highly processed snack foods, sweets and other packaged foods.

 

Right Mindset

Similar to healthy food, be mindful of what you consume mentally. 

  • Create space in the morning to be intentional with your thinking
  • Try to avoid work and negative news related information
  • Focus on inspirational and uplifting content
  • Create an attitude of appreciation and gratitude
  • Foster a growth rather than fixed mindset.

Right Focus 

Where focus goes energy flows. Focus and put your attention on:

  • What you want rather than what you don’t want
  • Connect what you want with why you want it
  • What’s the most important thing for you this day, week, month, year.
  • Ask yourself one small thing that would make a big difference to ….

Right Mindfulness

If you pay attention to the “voice in your head” you will notice, we are constantly thinking and focusing our attention on the past and future.

That’s perfectly fine when we are using the human mind to serve us and humanity.

The problem occurs when we believe the negative stories in our minds about ourselves, others and the world.

Bringing your attention to the “Now” or present moment helps reduce the constant mental stories we tell ourselves about the past and the future. Then all that is left, is to deal with a situation or accept what is. Problems worries and fears by definition require the past and future. Have you noticed how often your future fears and worries don’t occur!

Five Ways Mindfulness Meditation Is Good for Your Health

  1. Mindfulness is good for our hearts
  2. Mindfulness may decrease cognitive decline from aging or Alzheimer’s
  3. Mindfulness may improve your immune response
  4. Mindfulness may reduce cell aging
  5. Mindfulness may help reduce psychological pain

Right Relationships 

We are the average of the 5 closest people around us. Relationships can either drain you or fill you with negative or positive energy. Identify and make space in your life for your positive circle of influence.

 

Right Work

You may need to start with work you are not passionate about. Have a focus on work you eventually want to do. Work you care about, that you’re passionate about and enjoy doesn’t become work that becomes a chore and obligation.

 

Right Money Principles

Spend less than what you earn. Build savings so you have a backstop for emergencies and feeling of security. Spend your money on experiences that create lasting memories rather than material things that pass quickly.

 

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