If your mental health isn’t 100%, you must take action to improve it now. The first thing to remember is that you’re never alone; many people are struggling like you. One in five young American adults said the pandemic had a significant impact on their mental health, 3.8 million young Americans have had deep suicidal thoughts, and one in six young people has suffered a major depressive episode. Read on for eight unusual ways to address common mental health issues, courtesy of Velise Total Health.
1. Make Social Connections With Others
Although self-isolation is sometimes necessary—especially if you’re an introvert—you should be around people when you’re feeling down. Thankfully, there are many ways to do this, such as joining gyms, attending running clubs, hiking, swimming, and visiting nightclubs.
2. Learn Cold Water Therapy
Since the emergence of Wim Hof, cold water therapy has become far more common. Research suggests cold water swimming has a positive effect on the mental side of human beings. You don’t have to swim in your local lake to enjoy cold water therapy. Instead, youcan simply take cold showers every morning.
3. Meditate
Meditation is an excellent way to boost your mental health. Although it’s an ancient tradition, between 200 million and 500 million people meditate worldwide. Of course, mastering meditation isn’t easy for anyone. It will take time, diligence, and focus. However, the results are worth it in the end.
4. Relax in a Sauna
Is it cold and rainy outside? Even if it’s sunny outside, the mental benefits of using a sauna can be profound. Heat therapy can raise endorphins, create relaxation, alleviate depression and anxiety, and soothe muscle and joint pain. Scandinavian cultures have used saunas for centuries, but you can find saunas in almost all gyms and fitness centers worldwide today.
5. Support a Good Cause
There are many volunteer opportunities available should you want to contribute to a worthy cause. If you don’t have a local organization dedicated to helping a cause you value, however, you may be well served by starting your own nonprofit. The work of establishing a nonprofit corporation in service of a community need can provide a huge boost to your mental wellness. An online formation service can help you get started right away.
6. Start Journaling
You don’t have to be a professional writer to start a journal. The primary benefit of journaling is placing your thoughts on paper. You’ll learn a lot about yourself and enjoy a creative outlet.
7. Start Running
One of the best ways to help depression is through rigorous exercise. Running, especially when you’re outside in nature, is excellent for your mental health. An investigation found running can increase relaxation levels by 18 percent and improve the ability to handle stress by 29 percent.
8. Work at Home
Have you worked at home lately? Working at home means you don’t have to commute anymore and can spend more time with your family. After all, there’s a reason Facebook says half of its workforce will work from home by 2030. The extra sleep and additional time for exercise or healthy meal prep, as well as the time you spend with family, can all positively affect your mental health.
Boost Your Mental Health Today
With all the stress and anxiety in the world, it’s normal to struggle with your mental health from time to time. But you don’t have to suffer in silence. From changing your working conditions to exploring ways to relax and decompress, there are things you can do to improve your mental health today. For other naturopathic solutions, visit Velise Total Health today!