Sanca Vaal- Tips to enhance your Mental Health
- Value yourself:
Treat yourself with kindness and respect and avoid self-criticism. Make time for your hobbies, favourite projects and broaden your outlook. Have some fun; plant flowers, take dance lessons, learn to play an instrument, complete crossword puzzles, or become fluent in another language. - Healthy Bodies = Healthy Minds
Taking care of yourself physically can improve your mental health.
Make sure you:
Eat nutritious meals.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Exercise, which helps to lift your mood.
• Get enough sleep. - Surround yourself with positive people:
People with strong family or social connections are generally healthier than those who lack a support network. Make plans with supportive family members and friends. Seek activities, where you can meet new people, such as a club, class, or a support group. - Give yourself:
Volunteer your time and energy to help a person in need or a charity. You’ll feel good about doing something valuable and it’s a great way to meet new people. - Learn how to deal with stress:
Like it or not, stress is a part of life. Practice positive coping skills, for example, exercise, take a nature walk, play with your pet, try journal writing, Thai Chi, or yoga. Also, remember to smile and see the humour in life. - Quiet your mind:
Try meditating, mindfulness and/or prayer. Relaxation exercises and prayer may improve your state of mind and outlook on life. - Set realistic goals:
Decide what you want to achieve academically, professionally and personally, and write down the steps you need to realise your goals. Aim high, but be realistic and don’t over-schedule. You’ll enjoy a tremendous sense of accomplishment and self-worth as you progress towards your goal. - Modify the monotony:
Although routines make us more efficient and enhance our feelings of security and safety; a little change of pace can perk up a boring schedule. Alter your jogging route, plan a road-trip, take a walk in a different setting, hang some new photographs, or try a new restaurant. - Avoid alcohol & other drugs:
Sometimes people use substances to “self-medicate”, but in reality, alcohol and drugs only aggravate problems. - Get help when you need it:
Seeking help is a sign of strength, not a weakness. It is important to remember that treatment is effective. Individuals who obtain the appropriate care can recover from mental illness and addiction and lead full, rewarding lives. - Connect to things bigger than yourself:
The desire to have a purpose and connection to things bigger than ourselves is one of the qualities that make us human. It boosts our mental health by giving us perspective and meaning, and it connects us to others, who care about the same things.
• Connect to a cause you care about: join a rally, sign a petition, raise money, or volunteer.
• Find a spirituality to call your own: individual prayer, meditation, formal services of worship, or connecting with nature.
Visit www.sancavaal.co.za for advice on addiction and mental health
Worksheet compiled & adapted by Mignon Venter. Acknowledged with thanks the National Mental Health Association/National Council for Community Behavioural Healthcare & Canadian Mental Health Association
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