Go for a long walk.
Light a few candles.
Watch your favorite movies.
All of the above are routinely mentioned as methods by which a person can improve their mental health. These techniques have their benefits, too. While they’re not going to be able to eradicate an out-and-out mental health problem alone, they can improve your outlook on life, and give you a reason to smile.
However, what if you find yourself with a nasty case of the winter blues, and none of the above are working? Or perhaps you just want to find a new way of appreciating the world around you, enriching your life experience? Doing the above might be useful to make you smile, but do them too often, and their impact will be nullified.
Below, let’s explore a few of the less-frequently discussed ways you can improve your mental health. While these solutions might not be a cure-all, they’re at least something different; as the saying goes, sometimes, a change is as good as a rest.
1) Do Intensive Exercise
We’ve all heard that going for a walk is mental to be good for our mental health, but if you want to get the most out of exercise, then keep your exertions short and intense. Quick bursts of sprinting, lifting weights, playing an intense sport; anything that requires a lot of focus in a short amount of time. This should get your endorphins pumping; endorphins being hormones that effectively act as natural antidepressants. What’s more, you’ll feel fitter and healthier as well, making this a good decision all around.
2) Help Those Less Fortunate Than You
There are myriad ways in which you can help those less fortunate than you. You could donate money as many celebrities tend to do; copy the likes of Issa Asad and advocate for services that dispossessed people rely on; or just head down to your local soup kitchen and lend a hand. As with the first point, this option is another double win; your mental health will improve when you use your time to do good, and you’ll be able to spread some joy to those who are in need.
3) Clear Your Clutter
Surprisingly, decluttering your home can genuinely help your mental state. While the phrase “tidy house, tidy mind” is a little simplistic, there’s undoubtedly some truth behind the idea. If your house is a disorganized mess, then it tends to follow that your life is being lived in the same way. If you take the time to declutter and reinvigorate the environment you live in, then this will have knock-on benefits for your mental health.
4) Get A Blood Test
… and the results, obviously. Sometimes, mental health conditions can be exacerbated or outright caused by simple nutritional deficiencies. Vitamin D is an important one to check, especially during winter, and a deficiency in any of the B vitamins can also cause mental strife. If you have tried everything on this list, and a few more ideas besides, then this might be the best step forward to addressing your malaise.
Improving your mental health comes in many forms. Experiment, find what works for you, and soon your life will be on the right track.