Tips To Being Mentally Healthy

By Laura Spanheimer

(1) Visualize. Imagine how you can manage a stressful situation more successfully.
(2) Exercise and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Regular exercise is a popular way to relieve stress. Twenty to 30 minutes of physical activity benefits both the body and the mind. Good nutrition makes a difference. Limit intake of caffeine and alcohol, get adequate rest, exercise, and balance work and play.
(3) Share your feelings. A phone call to a friend puts things in perspective. Don't try to cope alone.
(4) Go easy with criticism. You may expect too much of yourself and others.
(5) Do one thing at a time.
(6) Give yourself a day of doing nothing to balance the discordant days of doing too much.
(7) Take a shower or bath with warm water. This will soothe and calm your nerves and relax your muscles.
(8) Have a good cry. Tears can help cleanse the body and also release a natural pain-relieving substance from the brain.
(9) Laugh a lot. When events seem too overwhelming, keep a sense of humor. Laughter makes our muscles go limp and releases tension. Learn to laugh as a relaxation technique.
(10) Reward yourself. Starting today, reward yourself with little things that make you feel good
(11) Develop and maintain a positive attitude. View changes as positive challenges, opportunities or blessings.

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