10 Tips to Improve Your Mental Health
Mental health and physical health are deeply intertwined. As a Doctor of Physical Therapy, I always incorporate mental health awareness into my evaluation and treatment sessions. Most of my clients who come to see me are in pain and their mental health is suffering. I know from experience that without addressing mental health, we can never truly maximize physical health. They go hand in hand.
Here are 10 tips for improving your mental health that you can start to incorporate today!
1. Take a break from electronics and social media.
2. Spend time connecting with nature or doing something creative like drawing or writing.
3. Exercise regularly to reduce stress and improve your mood.
4. Make sure to get enough sleep. Aim for 8 hours of sleep each night.
5. Eat a balanced diet full of nutritious foods to fuel your body and mind.
6. Connect with friends and family, even if it has to be virtually.
7. Practice mindfulness and meditation, or take up yoga or tai chi. Two great meditation apps are Headspace and Calm.
8. Spend time doing something you enjoy, like listening to music, reading, or playing a board game.
9. Take care of your physical health. Get regular check-ups and medical screenings from your physician or physical therapist.
10. Write down your thoughts and feelings in a journal. Journaling can help you to release some of the stress and pain associated with whatever it is you’re going through.
Seek additional help if you need it. Talk to a therapist or support group if your mental health is affecting your daily life, and make sure to enlist your family, friends or partner for extra support. Don’t go it alone! I hope these tips help!
Wondering how a PT can help with all of this?! In Physical Therapy, we emphasize that taking care of our mental health is an important component of physical health. We incorporate breath work and movement as well as connection to our bodies so we can regulate our emotions in a healthy way, and stay physically fit in order to combat illness. We also have the skills to make referrals to qualified healthcare providers such as physicians and mental health professionals as needed to create a strong team to help you reach your goals faster.
Stressed and anxious AND in pain? Schedule a complimentary injury screen with Wildflower Physical Therapy & Wellness today to learn how our qualified PTs can help you break the cycle of chronic pain and get back to doing the things you love to do!