When you feel good there is a lightness to your energy and a pep in your step, it feels easy to get things done and to feel confident in your decisions and in your body.
When you don’t feel good however, when your mental health is suffering, it can be very difficult to feel motivated, happy or excited about your life.
Mental health is so important to our overall well being, and even though we are becoming better at monitoring and caring for our mental health, there are small things we can do every single day to keep things in check.
Here are five daily rituals that will drastically improve your mental health:
1.) Breathing
There is a real power to your breath and the way that you breathe. When you feel stress or anxiety creeping up, try taking five deep breaths in and out. This will instantly help to calm your body and reduce your blood pressure. You can also try this quick and easy breathing exercise, which is a common practice in meditation ― breathe in for four counts, hold for four counts, exhale for eight counts. Repeat this pattern for a minute and notice how your body instantly calms itself. For best practices, aim to do regular breathing exercises and the start and end of each day.
2.) Get Some Exercise
Moving your body is a great way to get your energy flowing and also allows you time to focus on yourself, rather than all the chaos that is maybe around you. While exercising for 30 minutes or more is great, if you need a quick fix, simply doing some jumping jacks or jogging on the spot for 10 minutes is enough to stimulate your brain to release those feel good endorphins.
3.) Set Daily Goals
A great way to keep your life on track is to set daily goals. When setting goals the sky is truly the limit, but it may help to break down your bigger goals into smaller, more actionable steps. Making goals is a great way to help you to stay focused on what is important in your life and what you wish to accomplish.
4.) Monitor Your Thoughts
One of the best ways to enhance your mental health is to monitor your thinking. When you notice negative or self-limiting thoughts arising, try switching them to something more positive. For example, instead of saying, “I am such a failure I can’t believe I made this silly mistake,” try instead to say, “I am doing the best I can and I will figure out the best solution moving forward.” This may take practice at first, but in time it will help to improve your overall outlook on life.
5.) Positive Affirmations
Reciting a daily positive affirmation is a great way to lift your mood and can help to counteract any negative or stressful thinking. There are so many great positive affirmations you can find online or you can even write them yourself. Here are a few to get you started.
“I create my own happiness through finding joy and gratitude in every moment of every day.”
“I know I hold the power, knowledge and wisdom to turn my greatest dreams into a reality. Nothing is impossible.”
“My body, mind and soul is cleansed and restored with a healing, positive white light.”
Affirmations from Messages for the Soul.