Supporting your best mental health looks like a collection of habits and practices that make you feel your absolute best. Whether you are struggling with mental health challenges or simply wanting to take control of your mentality, you have options available to make the most of your wellness. Self-care and healthy living are built slowly over time as you learn which actions make you feel your best and adjust as life gets in the way. The best road to physical and mental wellness is to understand the foundation of your habits and act accordingly to get the best results. If you learn how to ask for help and create habits that make you feel good, your best mental health will follow.
Asking for Help
Taking a holistic approach to your mental health means asking for the appropriate professional support when you need it. Addiction, anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges are common and you are not alone if you struggle with your own mental health obstacles. By asking for help, you accept that you are not alone and you become open-minded enough to let professionals support you when you need it. Perhaps you need to rewire your brain to support your healthiest habits and self-confidence. Maybe you need professional help to overcome a serious addiction or move forward despite mental illness. Asking for help is the first step to taking the best care of your own mental health.
Consider exploring these resources if you need support:
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Licensed psychologists
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Support groups
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Mental health organizations
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Helplines and hotlines
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Inpatient treatment centers
Medication and Supplements
Medication and supplements for optimal mental health are best taken when prescribed by a doctor who understands your biology and needs. While there are plenty of over-the-counter medications and vitamins, your doctor knows exactly which supplements are best for your body and which doses work best for you. Minerals such as magnesium are incredible for protecting your mental health, and there are plenty of other natural options if you are looking to supplement with whole, natural ingredients.
Ask your doctor about these supplements to support your mental health:
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Omega-3 fatty acids for healthy fats
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Magnesium to boost your mood and overall wellness
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Vitamin D to support your overall mental health
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Citrus to boost your immune system and protect against illness
Healthy Eating
Healthy eating is a cornerstone of promoting your best mental and physical health. Feeding yourself brain food comes with plenty of benefits such as increased focus, mental clarity, and the nutrients your brain needs to support its neural pathways and signals. When your brain is properly nourished and hydrated, you are more likely to respond to stressors with logic and reason rather than overwhelm or exhaustion. Healthy eating also provides your body with the energy it needs to remain active and aware in order to respond positively to stimuli and stressors.
Implement these healthy eating habits for your mental health:
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Eat water-dense vegetables to stay hydrated
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Use fruit as your source of natural sugar to avoid energy crashes
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Avoid processed foods which often lead to brain fog
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Focus on whole plant-based foods for optimal energy and nutrition
Exercise
Exercise is one of the foundational habits you can take advantage of to look and feel your absolute best no matter what mental health challenges you may face. Releasing endorphins can improve your mood in the short term and promote your healthiest hormonal balance over time as this becomes your body’s way of improving its chemistry. Your mental health is improved by the daily habits that build your fitness routine, such as making a point to move daily or trying a new exercise that makes you feel great. What matters for building a fitness routine that promotes your health is to focus on the intentions behind your workouts. When you want to feel your best, you are more motivated to stick to your routine.
Support your mental health with exercise by:
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Unwinding with yoga after a long day
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Taking walks with loved ones for quality time
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Going for runs when stressors overwhelm you
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Swimming and hiking on vacations and other special times
Self-Care
Taking care of yourself is about more than simply face masks or spa days (although those are incredible). Self-care is about promoting your best mental health by taking daily actions that are designed to make you feel good. Building a self-care routine you love requires some trial and error as you may need to adjust your habits based on your lifestyle. Perhaps you decide self-care looks like setting boundaries between work and your personal life. Maybe self-care means more health-related choices to you and that is where you choose to begin. No matter what it looks like to you, self-care means taking small daily actions that promote feelings of health, wellness, and optimism in your mind.
Ideas for a great self-care routine include:
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Sleeping 7-8 hours each night
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Disconnecting from phones and devices each evening
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Waking up and meditating
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Journaling your emotions to support your mental health
Support System
Building your support system can begin with the foundation that you want to find like-minded people who want you to feel you absolute best. Healthy relationships are a key component to optimal mental health if you regularly want to be raised up and supported by those around you. Thought patterns and ways of seeing the world are also easily transferred from friend to friend, so be sure you are surrounding yourself with people who are optimistic about mental and physical health. If you need extra help creating your social support system, reach out to mental health organizations to get started.
Other ideas to nurture your support system include:
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Clearly communicating how your friends and loved ones can help you best
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Creating your own clubs and groups to support common mental health challenges
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Reaching out to resources you find on your own
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Sharing your progress with other individuals with similar mental health challenges
Setting Healthy Boundaries
Being clear about your boundaries is the last key step to a mental health routine that lasts. Work can often feel overwhelming and cause you to feel “on” most of the time. Family can sometimes come with drama or pressure that impacts your mental health. Friends may not always understand your need for self-care if you are trying something new. Setting healthy boundaries in life and work can protect your mental health before stressors pile up and cause you more challenges than you need.
Boundaries to consider include:
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Setting clear work hours
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Asking your friends to respect your time recharging
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Clearly telling your family how they can support you best
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Saying “no” when events or actions do not align with your best mental health
Taking the best possible care of your mental health includes asking for help when you need it and creating the necessary habits to feel your best from the inside out. Learn what makes you feel good and take small action steps to achieve your new goals whether you are in recovery or simply looking to improve your mental health. By making the effort to protect your psyche, you can feel excited about the future ahead no matter what your current challenges look like.