Looking after our mental health and emotional wellbeing is just as important as caring for our physical health. Our mind and body are not separate, disconnected things – they are part of what makes us whole! And mental health and physical health therefore are both part of our overall health and wellbeing – how often have you experienced physical symptoms as a result of stress, anxiety or low mood? Butterflies in your stomach, shaky hands, a cold sweat, fast breathing, tired, headaches, hard to get out of bed …
Sometimes it seems like we don’t have any control over our thoughts and feelings, but actually there are lots of things we can do to help us feel good, improve our mood and make a difference to our mental health. Just as with our bodies, we need to look after our minds all the time, not only when we feel bad.
Life is full of ups and downs, challenges and new experiences that can affect how we think, feel and act. Making small changes to our lifestyles, building supportive relationships with friends, family and/or professionals, and including regular activities that boost our ‘wellbeing reserves’ can help us to keep balanced and cope better when we face stressful events or more difficult feelings and thoughts.
For ideas on how to boost mood and wellbeing see the articles below or check out the Action for Happiness site for ideas and inspiration!