Many of us try to eat well and exercise regularly to keep our bodies in check. We understand and recognize the importance of looking after our physical health, but we tend to forget about mental well-being when discussing healthy living. Mental health is an integral pillar of overall well-being. Just as you can lower the risks of physical illnesses, you can also adopt a preventative approach to mental health. In this guide, we’ll outline some effective self-help strategies to protect and nourish psychological well-being. 

Exercise

Most of us think of exercise as a natural remedy for stronger muscles and bones, better cardiovascular health and maintaining a healthy body weight. Being active provides incredible benefits for physical health, but it’s also a fantastic way to shield your mental health. When you play sports, go hiking or do a workout at home or in the gym, your body releases endorphins and the levels of serotonin and dopamine in your brain increase. This means that you feel happy, energized and more confident. Try to make time for daily exercise. Even if you only manage a walk around the block or a 20-minute yoga workout or a jog after work, you’ll notice the benefits of moving your body. Aim to complete 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. You can include everything from cycling, swimming, kayaking and playing tennis, soccer or golf to dancing, walking the dog, running, doing Pilates or going rock climbing. 

Take up a hobby

Taking up a hobby is not just a brilliantly constructive use of your time. It’s also an effective way to improve your mental health. Hobbies and interests enable us to discover and learn, broaden our horizons, develop new skills, meet new people, build confidence, relax and express our emotions. There are hobbies to suit a vast array of interests, including art, music, sport, history, literature, photography, food and drink and travel. Browse guitars and guitar stands and look for a teacher or group classes online if you’re keen to join a band or improve your guitar playing skills. Sign up for beginner classes if you want to learn to dance or take professional photographs, or find out more about painting or drawing sessions you can attend with your partner or friends. Join online social media groups to meet like-minded souls or combine a love of travel and art, history or cooking by planning a cultural trip. 

Invest time in positive relationships

Relationships impact the way we feel on a daily basis. While positive relationships can make us feel content, secure and happy, negative relationships can make us sad and low and affect our confidence and self-esteem. Invest time in people who make you feel good and try to limit exposure to those who bring you down, make you feel worthless or drain you. It’s better to have a small circle of people you truly love and trust than to have lots of people you call friends who aren’t really there for you. It’s natural for relationships to change over time and most people find that their circles shrink as they get older. 

We often focus on our bodies when we talk about health. Mental health is as important as physical health and there are lots of ways to protect, nourish and boost well-being. Effective self-help strategies include exercising regularly, taking up a hobby and investing time in positive, strong relationships.