5 Easy Things You Can Do To Improve Your Mental Health
Overview
- We see from our own eyes, we walk in our own shoes, we are around ourselves for the rest of our lives… That means, we deserve to look after ourselves, to be happy and healthy and to attract groovy vibes only. 🌈
- Be aware of the vibes you put out there… speaking of out there, get some vitamin D and get outside! 🦋
- Turn that pesky voice in your head that puts you down into a cheerleader and visualise being happy 🌞
- Eat yo’ dang greens and exercise!! We wanna be happy inside and out 🥦
Guess what? My world revolves around me. Your world revolves around you. But it’s not as narcissistic and selfish as it sounds.
We see from our own eyes, we walk in our own shoes, we are around ourselves for the rest of our lives… That means, we deserve to look after ourselves, to be happy and healthy and to attract groovy vibes only.
Life can feel like it’s a nonstop whirlwind but if you take a step back and do some simple things to improve your mental health, you can feel so much better for it. Your world revolves around you, so you might as well make it a good one.
1. Appreciate
Seeing the world with a cup-is-half-empty rather than cup-is-half-full mindset will never end well. I mean, you attract what you put out there. If you’re constantly complaining, always seeing the worst from a situation and beating yourself up about the smallest things, your mental health will probably follow suit.
If you put good vibes out there (which I know sounds like mumbo-jumbo, trippy-hippie smack), you’ll attract good vibes. If you love to play the guitar, play the guitar! if you love to write, write! If you love to sit outside, sit outside! Appreciate the little things in life that make you happy.
Every day, I like to write down five things I’m grateful for, no matter how big or small. Today, I’m grateful for the hot weather, my bus came on time, the song Joker by Babe Ruth, my burrito and my mum. Even if I’m up the creek without a paddle, I will still think of five things I’m grateful for. It makes my outlook on life much happier, always looking for a silver lining.
2. Go outside
Venture out into the sunshine… or rain. Whatever floats your boat. Soak up some Vitamin D and some fresh air. Read a good book, sit on the beach, listen to some funky tunes, journal about your day or your weird dream last night. Do your assessments outside, eat a meal outside. When hanging with friends, plan picnics in the park or beach days. Learn to meditate in your backyard. Just send it outside! It’s so simple. Let those sun rays make you happier.
3. Fake it til’ you make it
Our subconscious mind can’t tell the difference between what’s real and what’s imagination. Like for real, google it because it blows my mind. For example, some Olympians have claimed that their success comes down to them practicing sprints or hurdles in their minds! And some musicians will practice their notes in their head and feel more confident.
Use this to your advantage. Tell yourself that you’re happy. Visualise yourself being happy and doing what you love with people you love. Turn that pesky voice in your head that puts you down into a cheerleader.
It’ll feel fake and awkward at first just saying “I’m happy”, but it soon becomes a habit. I have been telling myself that I’m happy and healthy every day for years and at least once a week, someone asks how I can be so happy all the time. This isn’t me flexing. This is me saying that you can do this too and you deserve to.
4. Eat yo’ greens
I know I know, you’re probably rolling your eyes. I’m sure you’re sick of being told to eat your veggies so this isn’t brand new information but this is pretty dang important.
Life is about enjoyment so feel free to indulge in some Oreos every now and then. But, treating your body like the temple it is with nutritious foods will no doubt, help your mood.
Get creative! Make some funky, healthy meals from all around the world. Get out of your food comfort zone. And of course, channel a rabbit and chomp on some greens. Your body will love you for it.
5. Let’s get physical, physical
First healthy food, now exercise… as if.
I’m not here to tell you to join a gym that costs the price of Jesus’ tears or run 10kms every morning. But just get moving. Walk to a bus stop a little further from your normal one. Blast your fave songs and boogie like a loose unit in your room. Join a sports team that you’d actually enjoy. Take up skating or surfing or gymnastics or yoga. Get into a routine of doing any form of exercise with friends. Whatever it takes, get that beautiful body of yours moving.
I love to do a 20-minute exercise in the morning so that I feel accomplished and productive for the rest of the day. Then, when I’m showering off the sweat I say to myself ‘hell yeah, you’re a legend’. It sounds crazy, but it pumps me up. As Elle Woods in Legally Blonde would say, “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy”. It’s as simple as that.
You deserve to be happy. I’ll repeat that one more time for the people out the back. You deserve to be happy! Look after yourself, attract good vibes, appreciate what you have and go send it.
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