If 2020 has taught us one thing it is that our health is so important. Health is wealth and our mental health is as important as our physical health. Most times, our mental health leads the way for our physical health to follow, which is why we must pay attention to it to live a fulfilling life. If you are struggling with mental health issues, you should speak to your doctor as soon as possible. It is important to start treating mental health illness as soon as you spot them. Preventing mental health illnesses is easier than treating them, so it is important to stay on top of your mental health. Here are some activities to help you stay on top of your mental health –

Exercise

An easy way of staying on top of your mental and physical health is to exercise regularly. Having a good exercise routine helps a lot. I exercise every morning for about 30 minutes and I have noticed a massive difference in my overall health. You don’t have to exercise for 30 minutes every day to improve your health. I started off exercising for around 15 minutes and I increased it gradually as I went on.

Exercising regularly has a positive effect on anxiety, ADHD, depression, and more. A good exercise routine also improves memory, helps you sleep better, relieves stress, and boosts your overall mood.

Yoga

Our nervous system is directly tied to our mental health, and this is where yoga comes in. Yoga calms and centers the nervous system. It also relieves stress, reduces muscle tension, increases body awareness, and sharpens attention and concentration. Yoga is a self-soothing technique similar to exercising and meditation. It is definitely worth trying especially if you are struggling with your mental health.

Grounding/Earthing

Going for walks and runs definitely help. There’s something about being outdoors that improves the mood instantly. The fresh air and the change of scenery usually calm the mind immediately. An important activity you should try if possible when outdoors is grounding. Grounding or earthing simply means walking barefoot. I did this a lot when I was a kid growing up in Africa, but the older you are, the harder it is to do some of the easiest things. Modern living has changed our lives and some of these changes are not good for our health.

Research has shown that grounding improves sleep, strengthens the immune system, reduces pain and inflammation, regulates the nervous system, and decreases feelings of anxiety and stress, and more. The benefits of grounding are too many to list in this blog post. However, grounding is not the easiest thing to do in the part of the world I live in but I make sure I do this in my garden as frequently as possible.

Mediation

Mediating does wonders for mental health.  I meditate daily and I cannot imagine a life without daily mediation. When meditating to improve mental health, it is important to focus on the root chakra (root energy center). The root center in our body is the base of the spine and that is the center that deals with mental health amongst others. There are loads of guided root chakra meditation videos on YouTube to help you. It is best to playa round with a few until you find the guided meditation that works best for you.

Dancing

Dancing is another activity that instantly improves my mood. I dance every day. It is part of my morning workout session and I love it. It relaxes me, relieves stress, and keeps me fit. Plus, it allows me to enjoy some of my favourite African tracks.

Do you do any of these activities every day? Which is your favourite?