Mental health is connected to our psychological, emotional, and social well-being. How we think, act, feel and respond highly depends on our mental health. According to a South China Morning Post report, the figures among university students are worse: 69 percent reported symptoms of depression, while 54 percent suffer from anxiety.

It is thus necessary that we all learn how to care for our mental health. You may not be affected by any of this, but you never know when you will come across someone who desperately needs help in this regard.

Here are tips to guide you on conscious efforts to improve your mental health. See you at the end!

Tip  1: Learn how to control your emotions

Thinking, studying, relaxing, and interacting with others when you are sad won’t be easy. These are not good for your mental health. Sometimes we feel emotions like fear, shame, anger, loneliness, etc., and we don’t always understand them. Therefore, it is important to address your emotions instead of hiding them.

The best way to control your emotions is by expressing them with words. In this case, you can tell yourself how you feel or talk to someone who understands, like a trained professional -counselor. Talking about your emotions may seem uncomfortable, but a trial will change your mindset forever.

 Tip 2: Visit Natural Environment

In our daily lives, we tend to experience certain things that can bring worries, fears, and pressures that stress us out. However, we can rely on a bit of nature to give us the calm we need. People have admitted that they tend to feel hopeful, less alone, and calmer when they visit natural scenes, like wildlife or forests. People in Japan engage in forest bathing, which they believe improves their mental well-being.

So it is a great idea to get connected with your natural environment. You can maximize your experience with nature’s healing effect by channelling your emotions and thoughts toward things around you, like trees, birds, animals, ponds, and seashores. Breathe deeply and slowly as you feel the atmosphere.

 

Tip 3: Avoid the use of drugs, alcohol, or other harmful substances to cope with difficult feelings

Many people go for drugs or alcoholic drinks to relieve themselves of negative feelings like fear, shame, or sadness. But, unluckily for them, they do not quench these feelings. Instead, they make it worse or even create more problems for themselves. In most cases, they end up with addiction or mental and physical challenges, which could affect their work, study, and relationships.

Even though you need to calm yourself or feel better, you must be kind and understanding to yourself. Try to keep out of things that can harm you. An alternative to drugs or alcohol can be talking with someone you trust or a charity that provides free advice and information about coping with negative emotions and caring for your mental health.

 

Tip 4: Sleep Well

Mental health challenges are prevalent among individuals without a good sleep routine, thus the major reason why they find it difficult to navigate the day. In my case, there were times when I’d go for days without sleeping more than two hours a day. These may look minor, but they have subtle effects piling up in your system.

If having a night of adequate sleep is challenging, try one of the following.

• Create a stress-free night schedule to put you in the mood for sleep.
• Keep off phones, TV, caffeine, or alcohol before bed. It will help you fall asleep quickly without interrupting your sleep. Don’t also engage in any vigorous physical activity before bedtime.
• Try to go to sleep and wake up around the same time daily

Conclusion

These tips are personally recommended, not just because they sound right, but because they have worked for me. One or a mixture of more will set you in the right part. Always have a positive mindset and never let negativity get to you. For instance, when people give you harmful remarks like “you will never be useful.” Remind yourself of all the things you are good at, and resound that “I’m good at many things.”

Find something new to think about or experience daily; these will help renew and brighten your mind when it has been made dull due to frequent repetition of activities. 

Try out or learn new things. That is how to keep your mental health on the good side.