Activities That Are Perfect for Improving Your Mental Health

I am excited to share a new blog post from guest writer Ashley McLean. She is the owner and operator of youngmoms.info. With the new year just beginning, mental health should be at the top of our list. Continue reading to find some alternatives to aid in your mental health. Enjoy the blog post!

There’s a lot of talk about mental health these days. And it’s no wonder why, since mental health disorders are one of the leading causes of poor health worldwide. And because the condition of one’s mental health is not just limited to the state of the mind but has physical ramifications too, it is, therefore, vital to pay close attention to how you’re thinking and feeling about life in general. So, if you’re not feeling that great overall, here are just a few examples of activities that are perfect for improving your general state of mind.

Doodling

Doodling is not just something that children do for fun. It’s also great for people of all ages who struggle to concentrate. So, if you suffer from bouts of brain fog every now and again, take out a pencil or pen and start doodling away, and you’re sure to feel more relaxed and more focused afterward.

Gardening

Not just reserved for people with green fingers, gardening is an awesome way to pass the time if you’re feeling stressed out or anxious. Furthermore, being outdoors has proven benefits on one’s mental health and boosts your immune system too. Gardening, in particular, has numerous therapeutic benefits such as improving your mood and boosting your creativity in addition to improving your confidence levels.

Bird watching

Bird watching is great to do when you need to escape the busyness of life. Also, bird watching is one of those pastimes that is catching on and becoming more and more popular by the day for people of all ages. Essentially, it is nature doing what nature does best-to calm the senses as well as the mind as you take in the beauty of your surroundings.

Tai-chi

If conventional sports aren’t your thing, perhaps Tai-chi is something that would appeal to you more. Not only is this strength-training sport excellent for balance and flexibility, but it is also highly beneficial for one’s mental health and can help to reduce anxiety, depression, and more.

Declutter

Perhaps your home environment is adding to the stress you may already be experiencing. Clutter can make us feel that we are losing control when it comes to keeping our homes tidy and orderly. However, there are things one can do to improve and enhance our living conditions to make them more conducive to our mental well-being. And this usually begins with decluttering and reorganizing an unkempt space to clear away any negative energy and make it more positive and inviting for when you’re feeling a bit blue.

Aromatherapy

After you finish decluttering your space, treat yourself to a relaxing bath featuring aromatic salts from Wicked Good Scentz. The refreshing scent will help put you at ease—then you can come out of the bath to a clutter-free home.

Start a non-profit

Perhaps the best thing to do to distract yourself from negative thoughts or worries is to start a non-profit corporation. This way, you’ll be so focused on helping others that you won’t have time to entertain negative thought patterns. Also, it may be easier to raise funds for your new business venture, as you can apply for special grants and public funding when you’re registered as a non-profit organization. Just be sure to follow the correct procedures when forming your corporation such as creating the necessary bylaws that will outline what your company is about from how it will be governed, to how the board meetings will work, and what the rules will be concerning conflict of interests.

Change career paths

Perhaps you need a drastic change of lifestyle to start feeling better about yourself and your current circumstances overall. This may mean having to change jobs if you dread going to work every day. Instead, you could look for a job that you’re passionate about so that you feel lighter and more uplifted at the end of each workday.

Take a holiday or mini-break every so often

Taking holidays or short mini-breaks every so often is highly effective at making you forget about your worries, at least momentarily, so that you can focus on restoring your mental and physical wellbeing. So, if you’re prone to feelings of burnout, a holiday could end up being just what the doctor ordered.

In summary, it is essential to focus on your mental health if you want to feel happier, more alive, and more yourself so that you can live your best life. And this is easy to do once you know what brings you joy and what makes you feel more fulfilled, and you start implementing these habits into your current lifestyle.

Thank you for reading!

Love and Nature,

Nicole & Ashley

Remember: The contents of this blog post are intended for educational and informational purposes only and may not be the best fit for you and your personal situation. It shall not be construed as medical advice. The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. Always check with your own physician or medical professional before trying or implementing any information read here. Click here to read more about my medical/FDA disclaimers.