5 Surprising Ways to Better Your Mental Health
Mental health is important now more than ever
Do you feel overwhelmed by the ever-changing world? Worried about the pandemic, wondering how your kids are going to return to school, scared you’ll lose your job?
Before you deal with these situations, prioritize your mental health to tackle each problem with calm and control. With a clear mind, you’ll be able to overcome anything life throws at you.
Here’re 5 unconventional tips to help you nurture your mental health.
Get a house plant
My mom treats our house plants like her children, but I never understood the big deal. They’re just plants, right? After hearing the myriad of benefits plants bring to our lives, I’m convinced we all need to follow in my mom’s footsteps.
Bring nature inside with aloe vera, spider plants, or a ficus.
Mother Nature is rejuvenating. As the plants around you inhale carbon dioxide and provide oxygen, peace will replace sorrow.
House plants reduce anxiety and depression and enhance creativity. Nurturing your plant is also a form of self-care. When you give back to others through acts of service, your mood is boosted. Focusing on your plant takes the attention away from your worries.
To ensure your success as a plant mom/dad, buy plants that fit your lifestyle. “Buy something that likes to live the way you do,” explains Gwenn Fried, manager of the Horticulture Therapy program at NYU Langone. For example, spider plants increase oxygen levels and don’t need constant attention. Chinese evergreens are also perfect for beginners because they can survive overwatering.
Hug yourself
When was the last time you hugged someone? Unless you’re quarantining with friends or family, it’s probably been a while. Still, you can enjoy the benefits of hugging even if you’re by yourself.
We’re social creatures, and Zoom calls don’t cut it. Touch is essential for survival and increases oxytocin, a “feel good” chemical that’s associated with happiness. It also lowers levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, in your body.
According to self-compassion researcher Kristin Neff, PhD, hugging your body increases feelings of love toward the self. You can weave loving-kindness meditation into your routine by focusing on channeling kind thoughts towards yourselves while hugging yourself.
Comfort yourself and practice self-care with a simple hug.
Take 10 minutes every day to sit in silence
Set aside your devices and do a mini dopamine detox. With everything from social events to work meetings transferring online, our eyes have been under constant stress these last few months. “Doomscrolling” and increased social media use also put pressure on our minds.
Sit with yourself and allow your mind a break from the constant stimulants surrounding it. While you’re sitting still, you’ll be flooded with inner distractions and become aware of every sensation in your body. Accept the urges to check your email or unload the dishwasher, but don’t act until your time is over.
Let your mind wander, and your thoughts will flow. Our brains are spinning even when we aren’t consciously working, so observing your thoughts for a few minutes may produce your next best idea.
If 10 minutes is too long, start with 5 minutes, or 2 minutes.
Get out in the sun
Does your mood go down in the winter months while suddenly improving in the warmer months? That’s because sunlight increases the production of serotonin, a mood-boosting chemical.
Natural light can also improve your physical health. Vitamin D reduces the risk of heart disease, bone loss, and numerous cancers.
No need to go to a beach to tan, especially right now: your backyard is all you need. I’m writing this out in my front lawn. Go outside for 10 minutes every few hours to soak in the sunlight. You can combine this with your daily mini dopamine detox.
Color
It’s time to crack open your children’s coloring books! Surprisingly, coloring isn’t just for the kids.
Coloring reduces stress, anxiety, and depression. “Whether you use colored pencils to create your own drawings or doodle in an adult coloring book, your mind and body relax when you are engaging in a focused, soothing activity,” says Dr. Carla Marie Manly, a clinical psychologist.
Let out your inner child and get lost in a world of color. Embrace creativity. Adult coloring books are designed especially to relieve stress, so if you’re craving something more than what your kids use, try one out.
The Takeaway
By caring for your mental health, you’ll be equipped with the focus and clear mind to handle difficult situations.
- Get a house plant
- Practice self-compassion and hug yourself
- Sit in silence
- Get out in the sun
- Color
Let me know in the comments if you use any of these tips already or do anything else to give your mental health a boost.
