Top 30+ of the best ways to improve your mental health

Mental health is something that everyone grapples with on a daily basis. It's the cornerstone to our success and, if not taken care of, will be the key to our failures. In this day and age, mental health is increasingly becoming more of a focus, as we have witnessed more and more people become increasingly exhausted in their daily lives. Yet, there are ways for us to turn our lives around, and in this gallery we'll show you 30 of the best solutions for improving your mental health. Simply click on to discover them.

Eating healthy foods

Eating healthy food via proper dieting is one of the key components to improving one's mental health, as junk food typically contains chemicals that go directly to the brain and will bring your energy levels down.

Eating dark chocolate

Turns out that dark chocolate naturally lowers blood pressure and boosts the hormones that make us feel good inside. Studies have proven that chocolate contains neurochemicals that help stimulate the brain, with serotonin levels being altered when we eat it.

Little to no alcohol consumption

Numerous studies throughout the last 40 years have shown that alcohol consumption negatively affects our mental health by increasing stress levels and anxiety. Under the influence of alcohol, people have been known to have violent tantrums or worse. Cutting back on alcohol is definitely a great step in the right direction if you are seeking to improve your mental health.

Getting 15 minutes of sunshine

If you're working in the dark corners of your house, office, or any indoor facility for hours on end, and feeling both anxious and stressed as a result, then perhaps it's best to take some time out of your day to get 15 minutes or more of sunshine in order to relieve yourself of that stress and anxiety that's dragging you down. Studies have shown that doing this improves your mental health and overall behavior for the better. Not to mention that being out in the sun affords people plenty of vitamin D!

Exercising regularly

Daily exercise drastically improves one's mental health, as endorphins are released as you move your body and break a sweat or two. Numerous studies have showcased the positive results of daily exercise, especially if one does so in the early morning.

Exploring nature

Research has shown that being around trees reduces stress, anxiety, and depression levels greatly. Our overall mood improves for the better, and cognition is also improved as well. As such, the benefits of exploring nature every so often cannot be understated.

Choosing a daily routine and sticking with it

Daily routines reduce anxiety and stress levels for us because with a schedule, the sheer weight and pressure of the day won't be so crushing.

Being creative

Some people like to write poems, others enjoy making crafts for fun. When we partake in a creative activity that is fun for us, it also reduces stress and anxiety levels, as we are caught in the moment of that creative activity.

Positive self-talk

In the modern age, many people struggle with what is called negative self-talk, which will plague them with doubts about who they are and what they're capable of doing in life. A better way for individuals to improve their mental health is to engage in positive self-talk that lifts their spirits in order to help them get through the day.

Being in a healthy relationship

Relationships can go two ways. There are those that are toxic and negative, and thus worth leaving. Then there are those that are healthy and worth keeping. Being in a relationship with someone can come with enormous benefits, not only via reduction of stress and anxiety, but also ranging from being physically healthier and living a longer lifespan, as well as having higher self-esteem.

Having a healthy relationship with family

Having a healthy relationship with family members not only lowers rates of anxiety and depression, but also helps reduce feelings of loneliness.

Take time to relax and do nothing

One of the best ways to improve mental health is just to relax and do nothing for 20-30 minutes. With this time, people can relieve themselves of stress and anxiety and let their minds wander off, or, better yet, fill them with positive thoughts.

Smiling

Many of us will go an entire day with a frown on our faces. However, studies have shown that smiling is a natural mood booster that is known to reduce stress, as endorphins are released and act as a natural painkiller.

Don't be too hard on yourself

Too many of us are hard on ourselves. While it is always good to maintain discipline and be critical of our performance in our day-to-day lives, it can also be counterproductive to be too critical of ourselves. What's more, it ultimately crosses over into negative self-talk. Such habits can lead to higher levels of anxiety and depression.

Self-gratitude

Another way for you to improve your mental health is by practicing self-gratitude. Many, if not most, of us will look at the current problems we have and see how hard things are. We sometimes need to be reminded of what we should be grateful for. Doing so relieves us of stress, anxiety, and depression.

Creating a therapeutic space

While therapy is a good way to improve mental health, another method is creating a therapeutic space as a way to calm the nerves and relieve stress. Therapeutic spaces give us a sense of calm without any noise or distractions. Some people will opt for a space with natural light and views of nature, while others will opt for dim lights and little to no objects around, for example.