The Mom Kind Although the general advice involving mental health includes going to a psychiatrist, not all of us have the extra funds to spend on a health care provider. In addition, driving to the psychiatrist’s office, taking hours out of our day, or even missing a much-needed work shift isn’t accessible for many, but there are things you can do to improve your mental health from the comfort of your home.
Discuss Your Feelings
Talking about your feelings can help you stay in good mental health, so speak to your friends, family, or spouse on the phone or through Zoom. If you suspect you have depression or you’re having suicidal thoughts, please speak to someone you trust. There are plenty of free services available to help you, including those that help minorities or marginalized groups.
Purchase Flowers Online
Flowers provide many mental health benefits for humans, including an improved mood, an accelerated healing process, higher rates of compassion, and more energy. In addition, people who spend time around flowers are more likely to have a more positive outlook on life. If you live in Texas, Dallas flower delivery services can drop off fresh blooms with same-day shipping.
Stay Active at Home
You don’t have to leave your home to stay active or use gym equipment to improve your mental health. Cleaning the house, walking up and down the stairs, or using a YouTube workout video can help get your body moving. Exercise boosts self-esteem, concentration, and mood. Any physical movement that lasts 30 minutes or longer will promote mental wellness.
Eat a Healthy Diet
According to the World Health Organization, a healthy diet includes fruit, vegetables, legumes, and little to no meat. Healthy unsaturated fats from avocados and nuts are preferable to saturated fats from meat and cheese. Remove all junk food and cut back on the salt, if possible. WHO suggests that the majority of your calories comes from carbs, then protein, then fats.
Avoid Alcohol and Drugs
It’s in your best interest to avoid alcohol and recreational drugs for the benefit of your mental health. When we drink alcohol or take drugs, it changes our mood. Some people use these substances to deal with the fear of loneliness, but it’s temporary and often makes you feel worse. Drugs and alcohol will eventually deteriorate your physical and mental health.
Spend Time With Your Friends Online
Although it’s great to see your friends in person, you can still speak to your loved ones by scheduling a phone or video conference date. Catching up with your friends can help improve your mood and overall temperament, even if you’re discussing what you both did over the weekend. If your friends make you laugh or provide positive reassurance, even better.
Take a Mental Break
Are you feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or need a general break from a situation? Take a day off from work or find someone to watch your children. If you can’t spare the time or money, make a cozy spot on your couch, drink a hot chocolate, and watch some Netflix after work. Can you only spare 5 minutes? Pause to de-stress and offer yourself words of encouragement.
Do Something you Love
Indulging in our hobbies is essential for mental health, especially if you’re good at it. For example, if you lose yourself in the moment when you paint or enjoy playing a videogame after a difficult day, set what you can aside to give yourself some “me-time.” Achieving or making something boosts your self-esteem, fills you with happiness, and helps beat stress.
Simple Strategies to Improve Your Mental Health from Home
Take care of yourself at home by giving yourself space to improve your mental wellbeing. Making simple changes to how you live doesn’t have to be expensive, take up much of your time, or involve leaving home, so start implementing these simple strategies today.
The Mom Kind
Alicia Trautwein is an Autism advocate, writer, motivational speaker, and dedicated mom of four. Alicia’s desire to advocate for Autism comes from her own autism diagnosis and that of her three children, niece, and brother. Her life’s mission is to educate on autism acceptance and change the world for future generations of autistic individuals.
