The Every Mind Matters section of the NHS website has some top tips for mental wellbeing, including a short quiz to help identify appropriate tips for helping deal with stress and anxiety, improve your sleep, boost your mood and feel more in control.
Website: Every Mind Matters

Top Tips

Living with a mental health problem can often have an impact on day to day life, making things seem and feel more difficult. Here are nine key areas to focus on and may help you take small steps to feeling better mentally.

1. Take care of yourself
It’s important to take care of your physical health as this can affect your mind. Trying to keep a balanced diet whilst also drinking plenty of water can help your energy levels. Things like junk food, alcohol and some non-prescribed drugs can leave you feeling down.

2. Exercise
Our mood is affected by chemicals in the body. Even gentle exercise can release ‘happy hormones’ that not only help us look and feel better, they can increase concentration and aid sleep.

3. Sleep and rest
Our bodies heal when we sleep and it’s often easier to drift off when our mind is well rested. Therefore, take some time out during the day for a brisk walk or to meditate; anything you consider a break from your chores.

4. Mindfulness
Ruminating over the past or worrying about the future is a constant drain on energy levels. To live in the moment learn how to be mindful -- you should find it a powerful skill once acquired. There are Mindful apps, such as CALM, which can help.

5. Engage in activities
Being part of a network of people who all help one another is uplifting in its own right. Give your time or attention to other people in a personal, professional or voluntary role and it can make you feel better about yourself as well as feel less isolated.

6. Be kind to yourself
Be aware of your critical voice. When you are anxious or depressed you may well have a voice that tells you negative things about yourself. Be aware of this and notice the way that makes you feel and how it affects your behaviour. Know that you can choose to do something different.

7. Socialising
If you are kind to yourself it encourages others to treat you in the same way. Surround yourself with positive people who are there for you when you need them most. Just the connection with people who care can be all the comfort you need at times.

8. Accept help
No matter how hard you try to live a healthy and self-compassionate life there will always be a time when you need help. Let close friends or family help you work through a problem or contact one of our Let’s Talk team for a chat.

9. Therapy
It’s important that you don’t ignore a problem with mental health. Talking therapy such as counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy can help.

Check out our Help & Support tab for further information..