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Begin the New Year with a healthy mindset. Here, we provide four top tips on how you can focus on your mental health in the New Year, resulting in long-lasting benefits.
1. Look After Yourself
Your physical health and mental wellbeing are interlinked. By exercising regularly, you’re boosting the ‘happy chemicals’ in the brain (endorphins), which help improve your mood and sense of wellbeing. Make an effort to engage in some form of exercise every day. If you find it difficult to allocate half an hour of your day to exercise, just squeeze in 10 minutes at a time. Try 10 minutes of sit-ups and stretches in the morning, or a brisk 10-minute walk with the dog when you get home from work. You can also add 10 minutes of weights or yoga in the evening while you wait for dinner to cook.
2. It’s Time to Sleep
It can prove challenging to get the right amount of sleep every night when juggling several roles. However, the average adult needs around eight hours of sleep a night to fully rest. Sleeping well should be a resolution on your list as it helps your body recuperate physically and mentally. A good night’s sleep will result in alertness and a positive mood the following day. If you make positive changes to your sleep habits, but still toss and turn, talk to your doctor about other solutions. Remember, good quality sleep can affect your mental health, so make sure that you make it a priority!
Tip: Avoid stimulants or other known sleep disruptors. Caffeinated drinks, like coffee, chocolate, hot chocolate, and soft drinks, can increase your energy levels and disrupt your sleep.
3. Press Pause on Social Media
While social media connects you to the world and allows you to keep in touch with friends and family, it also can negatively affect mental health if used excessively. Social media may increase your stress levels and have a detrimental impact on your mood as you may fall into the trap of a vicious cycle of comparing lives.
Press pause on your social media accounts (even for a day!) and evaluate its effect on your stress and anxiety levels. You might find that you’re much calmer without having a constant insight into everything.
4. Ask For Help
If you are struggling mentally, it’s essential to recognize that specialist support is available. Contact South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) to find out how to take steps towards the healthy and fulfilling life you deserve.
Here at Flora, we care about your mental health as much as you do. We have put together a list of Healthy Livingtips, Flora ingredients and Flora recipes to help get you started on a healthier outlook in the New Year.