Invest in yourself: how you can boost your emotional well-being
Exercise on a regular basis. Eat at least five fruits and vegetables a day. Go outside and get fresh air.
We all know the basics for maintaining and improving our physical health. Unfortunately, too many of us take our mental health for granted and only focus on it when problems occur.
“Emotional well-being is not merely the absence of mental health problems,” notes Janet Crowe, director of Health Services. “Mental health also means being content, confident and adaptable. People who are mentally healthy have a strong sense of purpose, build and maintain fulfilling relationships, find a balance between work and play, and are able to deal with stress and bounce back from adversity.”
The good news is there are many things we can do to build our emotional resilience, so we can better cope with challenging issues and tough times.
How to develop your mental health
Taking care of your body is a powerful first step toward mental health. When you improve your physical health, you automatically experience greater emotional well-being. For example, in addition to strengthening our heart and lungs, exercise also releases endorphins, natural pain relievers that energize us and make us feel good.
Here are other ways to maintain or improve your mental health:
Get plenty of sleep. Most of us need seven to eight hours of shut eye to function optimally.
Eat well. Learn about good nutrition and practice it. Healthy food boosts your energy and mood.
Soak up the rays. A daily dose of sunlight can enhance your frame of mind. Try to get at least 10 to 15 minutes of sun each day.
Volunteer. Do something that helps others and feel good about yourself.
Be social. Spend time with friends, neighbours, colleagues and family members who are upbeat and positive, and value you.
Spend time away from your PC and TV. The virtual world can be fun, but nothing beats face-to-face contact and real-life adventures such as travel.
