There’s so much emphasis on physical health- we’re constantly told we should eat well, exercise and give up our dangerous vices. And of course, this is excellent advice, we only get one body so it’s important to treat it well. However, for overall wellbeing and happiness it’s not just our physical health we need to consider but our mental health too. When we live in a world that’s busy, chaotic and focused on work, relaxation or time out just for yourself can feel like a luxury rather than essential. But it shouldn’t be the case, life is all about balance and if this is thrown out of whack it can lead to issues with both the body and the mind. Here are five ways you can look after your mental health that you might not have thought about.
Continue your education
Do you feel like you’re in a bit of a rut? Perhaps you’re in a dead end job, or maybe every day feels like groundhog day. Don’t let life pass you by in an endless cycle of work, eat, sleep, repeat. Continuing your education help you to build new skills, keeps you curious and can also improve your job prospects. Perhaps you want to take an online msw to change careers, or maybe you want to return to full time education at your local university to do a psychology degree because it’s something that’s always interested you. Whether it’s to improve your career or for personal development, learning about a new subject can give you purpose, keep your mind sharp and can even help you to meet new people.
Take up a new hobby
Another way you can help to break out of a rut when it feels like all you do is work is by taking up a new hobby. When you have time off, it allows you to put it to good use instead of wasting it away. Whether gardening, crafts, baking or sport is your kind of thing, either buy the materials to start up the hobby at home or attend a class. As with education, you’re learning new skills which is very rewarding and good for your mental health, and it can add some interest and enjoyment back to your life which can make you feel happy and positive.
Travel
We all know that travel is fun. You get to see and do new things, eat delicious food guilt free and enjoy some incredible weather. You can relax, and spend your entire day laying on a beach if you want to. But travel is incredibly good for your mental health too. When things are busy at work and you’ve been giving your all day in, day out it can easily lead to burnout. Sometimes, a week or two away from it all is just what the doctor ordered. Your trip can be anything you want it to be, you can see new sights, chat to the locals and gain a whole new perspective of your life. Or you can simply eat, drink and lounge without a care in the world. Either way, it’s the perfect way to get away from it all and give yourself a much deserved break.
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