Do you know what mental wellbeing is? It is described as your thoughts and feelings and how you cope with the ups and downs of everyday life. You may think that it is the same thing as mental health but it isn’t — the two can influence each other however. If you suffer from a long period of low mental wellbeing this can directly affect your mental health and lead to the development of some mental health conditions.
Maintaining a good mental wellbeing can feel really empowering and it is little wonder that a good mental wellbeing and self empowerment go hand in hand. A good mental wellbeing will see you feeling confident in yourself, building and maintaining positive relationships and coping with the normal stressors of everyday life however there are many different things that can have a negative effect on your wellbeing.
Getting to the stage where you have a good mental wellbeing may require some work — if your wellbeing is low and you are suffering from poor mental health, a chat with a counsellor such as Mylo Kaye may help you to work out what things you can change to rectify the situation. Often a simple change in circumstances or routine can provide the clarity you require. Person centred therapy helps people to work out what steps they need to take without any judgement from the therapist who instead aids their client into reaching the realisation on their own.
But how can we achieve and maintain a good mental wellbeing? Surely it can’t be that simple? Here’s how:
Realise that good mental wellbeing doesn’t mean you are never unhappy
Far too many equate a good mental wellbeing as being completely happy all of the time. This isn’t the case — everyone has things to deal with in their lives whether that is a bereavement, the breakdown of a relationship or job stress. Despite such events going on in your life, it is still possible to have a good mental wellbeing.
A good mental wellbeing is living a happy life around all these other things that life can bring. No one person’s life is perfect but they can still be happy with it even if it is a little imperfect in places.
Don’t push yourself
If something feels uncomfortable, don’t push yourself to do it as this will only maximise stress levels. Take small steps towards your goal until you feel fully ready to be able to achieve it.
Pushing yourself may only exacerbate your stress and this is the opposite of what you want to achieve.
Take time to relax
A vital component for a good mental wellbeing is having the time and opportunity to relax. We all need the chance to recharge our batteries and it can often do us the world of good. This could be by taking a nap, reading a book or having some technology free time — taking time to yourself is so important.
Too often we will push ourselves too much and exhaust ourselves which has a negative impact on our wellbeing. By taking the time to refresh and plan our next steps, we can avoid falling into that trap.
Make connections
Connections with others is key when it comes to a positive mental wellbeing. Whether this is by connecting with people you already know or making new connections with people of similar interests, the time spent with them can do wonders for someone’s wellbeing.
Keeping in touch with friends and family is a great way of looking after your own wellbeing. Sometimes you just need to chat to someone, even if you don’t actually realise it.
If you feel yourself slipping, consider a professional and non judgemental sounding board such as a therapist or counsellor. It is what they are there for — to listen to you without judging you, making that connection with you and helping you realise what you need to do.
Keep Healthy
This is easier said than done as poor mental wellbeing can lead to mental health conditions and this in turn can make it harder to stay healthy however keeping healthy by sticking to a balanced diet, avoiding vices and exercising regularly can be great at keeping your mental wellbeing in a positive place.
Spend Time Outside
Studies show that people really do benefit mentally from being outside and at one with nature. Being outside can improve moods and reduce feelings of stress and anger. Make the time to be outside every day and feel the benefits it has for your mental wellbeing.
Taking responsibility for your own mental wellbeing, and in turn your own mental health, can seem like a big impossible thing but it needn’t be. By knowing what things can benefit you and your mind and taking steps to do them, you will find that you will feel empowered to do more and to keep pushing on.
