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Published on October 03, 2018

5 Simple Way to Improve Your Physical and Mental Wellness

There’s a misconception that if you aren’t struggling with a mental health disorder, then you don’t need to worry about your mental health. But just like you develop habits to keep yourself physically healthy, you can develop habits that improve your mental wellness.

The good news is there is a lot of overlap between what keeps you physically and mentally healthy!

  • Exercise

    The key is to find the right type of exercise for you – whether that means joining a gym or a casual sports team, going for walks with a friend or a pet, or doing yoga from the comfort of your own home. Physical activity has been shown to help clear the mind, improve self-worth, and reduce depressive and anxious feelings.

  • Sleep

    Poor sleeping habits have often thought to be caused by mental health disorders, but in fact, more recent research suggests poor sleep could be making your mental health worse. Following a healthy bedtime routine could make you feel happier, calmer and better focused throughout the day.

  • Diet

    Cutting down on sugary, fatty foods and replacing them with nutrient-rich foods like fish, veggies, and foods that have healthy fats like avocados, has been shown to reduce depressive symptoms in adults.

  • Community and relationships

    Whether the support comes from family, a partner, friends, coworkers or even pets, feeling connected to those around you can increase a sense of purpose and love in your life.

  • Relaxation and recreation

    In our busy lives it can be easy to forget about the hobbies you used to love or make time to sit down and enjoy a book. Building in time to do the things you enjoy will help you have a happier frame of mind and give you more bandwidth to deal with difficult emotions when they arise.

Ultimately, it’s important to remember that mental health is closely tied to physical health. Treating them both with care and working on your overall wellness will make you feel better in a number of ways.

Take a free, confidential online screening today

If you have tried improving these areas of your life, but feel like you need more support, take our mental health screening. It’s a simple, confidential way to see if you have symptoms of a diagnosable and treatable mental health disorder. After the screening, if needed, you can make the decision to meet with a mental health professional.

dave miers

About Dr. Dave Miers

Dave Miers, PhD, is director of behavioral health services at Bryan Medical Center in Lincoln, Nebraska.

He helped establish the Nebraska State Suicide Prevention Coalition in 1999 and chaired/co-chaired this Coalition until 2017. He currently serves on the Board of Directors. Dr. Miers is a member of the leadership group for the Lincoln/Lancaster County Suicide Prevention Coalition. Dr. Miers has published research and co-authored a chapter in the Routledge International Handbook of Clinical Suicide Research focusing on family survivors of a child suicide. Dr. Miers helped develop the Lincoln Lancaster Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors (LOSS) team in Lincoln, Neb. He also helped develop other LOSS teams in Nebraska and is active with LOSS team development on a national level.

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