10 Simple Tips to Keep your Mind Calm

We all are aware of numerous ways to take care of the body. But, what about taking care of your mind? Mental health is the way we think and feel about ourselves and the world around us. When we practice good mental health habits, it is easier to handle stress and other problems. Read this article to Learn about different ways to build good mental health.

1. Take care of your body
Our bodies and our minds are connected. When you take care of your body, you also take care of your mind.

2. Eat well-timed, balanced meals
Food is our fuel. It gives us important nutrients that help our bodies work. It makes sense that the better we eat, the better we work. Our brains work better, too. Research shows that the food we eat is a big part of mental health. Healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains give us the nutrients to work our best. Skipping meals can make you feel tired or irritable.

3. Watch out for too much caffeine.
Caffeine is the part of coffee and black tea that gives you energy. It is in other drinks and snacks, too. Caffeine can add to feelings of anxiety. It can also stop you from sleeping well.

4. Keep a check on sugar intake.
Eating sugar gives you a quick burst of energy. But when that energy is gone, you feel more tired. It can lower your mood and make you feel irritable.

5. Exercise
Exercise is good for your body. But did you know that it is also good for mental health? Exercise can help cope with stress, lowers anxiety, lifts our mood, boosts our energy, helps us feel good about ourselves, helps us sleep well. Just 30 minutes a day, three or four days a week is enough to see big changes.

6. Get enough sleep
Sleep has a huge effect on mental health. When we get enough sleep, it is easier to cope with stress, handle problems, concentrate, think positively and remember things. You know that you are getting enough sleep when you do not feel sleepy during the day.

7. Practice healthy thinking
Good mental health does not mean that we only ever have happy thoughts. Sad or upsetting things are part of life. Problems are also part of life. Good mental health means looking at the situation for what it really is.

8. Watch for thinking traps
The way we think about something has a big effect on the way we feel. If we feel like we can handle a problem, we often feel good. If we do not think that we can handle a problem, we often feel bad. Sometimes, we think that something is bad, even when it is not true. These thoughts are sometimes called “thinking traps.” They are traps because they are easy to fall into and can get us stuck and feeling bad.

9. Slow down
We all need to take time to slow down and relax. It is a big part of managing stress and enjoying our lives. When we do not take time to slow down, stresses can add up until we feel too overwhelmed to do anything. How you relax is up to you- Yoga, meditation, tai chi, and breathing exercises are suggested activities.

10. Take some time out to laugh
Meet and reconnect with your group of friends,  watch a comedy or check out funny videos online. Laughter therapy helps reduce anxiety.