Celebrating World Mental Health Day

Sometimes we might develop patterns of thoughts that are unhelpful. This affects the way we feel and can lead to unhelpful actions, but it is possible to recognise, challenge and replace our unhelpful thoughts. Learning how to do this can really help to improve our mental health and wellbeing.

Sometimes we can get caught up in worrying about the future or ruminating on the past. Taking time to notice our own thoughts and feelings, and the world around us can help us to gain a better perspective and feel better. This is known as being more mindful.

Getting good-quality sleep is important for our mental health and can make a big difference to how we feel. It’s important to get enough sleep and there are lots of things that can help us to develop a healthy sleeping routine, like switching off and having some winding down time before bed.

Connecting with others is important for our mental health and can help us to feel better even when we don’t feel like socialising. There are lots of different ways to do this whether it’s in person, online or over the phone. Spending quality time with friends or family, talking to someone about how we are feeling or finding ways to help other people can all help to improve your mental wellbeing.

Our mental health goes hand in hand with our physical health and there are small changes we can make to take care of both. Being active, enjoying the outdoors and having a healthy, balanced diet can all help to boost mental wellbeing. Also, binning bad habits like smoking, and cutting down on alcohol and caffeine can have a positive effect on our mood.

When we don’t feel our best, it can stop us from doing enjoyable activities but it’s important to find the time to do things just for you. This might be your favorite hobby, learning something new or simply taking time to relax. Allowing yourself to figure out what hobbies or activities make us happy can help to boost your mood, lower stress, and build confidence.