5 Ways to Get Mentally Healthier for the Holidays by Dr. Benjamin
- Be friendly…to yourself
- Remind yourself that other people have the same problems that you do
- Always remember that you are not defined by your problems
- Get enough sleep
- Exercise
If you visit your primary care doctor, they will tell you about things that you can do to improve your physical health. They might suggest that you eat more fruits and vegetables and tell you not to eat sugary, fatty foods. But what can you do to improve your mental health? Let’s go through each of the 5 tips above.
- Be friendly to yourself. You give encouragement to close friends and family when they’re having a rough time in life–Do the same for yourself! Don’t criticize yourself when you mess something up. Instead, give yourself the same encouragement and support that would to your friends.
- Remind yourself that other people have the same problems that you do. You’re not a freak. You’re also not alone. Failure and hardships are a part of life for everyone. When you’re going through hard times, it often appears that everyone else is doing just fine. In reality, everyone has difficulties in their life at some point.
- Always remember that you are not defined by your problems. “The clothes don’t make the man,” and your failures and weaknesses don’t make you. Accept that you have not been successful in everything that you’ve attempted to do. But also believe that you’re not a failure just because you don’t succeed all the time.
- Get enough sleep. If you’re an adult, you should sleep at least 7 hours per night. If you are having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, talk to your doctor about it.
- Exercise. Regular exercise has been proven not only to improve physical fitness but also mental health. Exercising could possibly make you feel less anxious and less depressed. If you are elderly or have health problems, you should talk to your doctor before starting an exercise program.
