Mental Health: Quick Fixes For Your Mental Health

There are many different ways that you can improve your mental health in the short term. Long-term issues can be scary and harder to work on, but making yourself feel better in the short term is important. My personal favorite is watching one of my comfort TV shows. Those include Phineas & Ferb, Spongebob, and Family Guy. When I watch something that is comfortable and enjoyable to me, it immediately improves my mental health. Also, sometimes it’s best to shut off your social media and disconnect from the internet. The internet can give you immense amounts of anxiety in multiple ways. When you are consistently viewing the fun things that everyone else is doing, it can make you feel like you’re either missing out or not doing enough fun stuff. It can be very depressing. Disconnecting from the internet can improve your mental state in many positive ways. Cutting your screen time, most importantly before bed, can improve your sleep and mental state. Blue light can also affect sleep and mood. Apple makes it possible to limit the screen time on your phone, and that could benefit your mood in the short term.

Physical activity is also a very important part of your mental health, for multiple reasons. First, mental health improves with better self-confidence. That can be created with increased physical fitness and wellness. Also, your body responds positively to life when it is in a healthier condition. You could try doing simple exercises every morning, or when you need them to improve your mental health. You do not need to become a fitness expert overnight, just do what is comfortable for you and increase your level of health slowly over time. Going on walks/jogs can have a massively positive impact on your overall well-being, specifically related to your mood.

One of my personal favorite fixes for your mental health is to connect with a loved one. Call your parents, grandparents, siblings, or friends and talk to them. Make sure you are choosing a person who makes you happy when you talk to them. A short call can massively improve your mental health. Interpersonal conversations can be fruitful for mindfulness and give you a feeling of both accomplishment and having a purpose. It is important to feel loved. Giving yourself a sense of purpose can improve your mental health very quickly.

Listening to music is another great way to quickly improve your mental health. Uplifting tunes are a very important and useful tool in your journey to fight off negative feelings in your daily life. Personally, I feel like I can make a direct change in my mood using just music. I use artists like Pitbull, Drake, or Frank Ocean to improve my mental health. Similarly, if you would like to soak in your sadness a little bit, listen to bands like Modern Baseball. Lo-fi or background ambient music can also help you calm down and feel better in a pinch.

Cleaning your immediate everyday environment can drastically improve your mood. Take the trash out, do dishes, and pick up trash around your space. You will feel more accomplished and less mentally clouded after your personal space is clean. It may also help to do some meal prep. Cooking, especially healthy foods, can drastically improve your physical and mental health very quickly. This somewhat goes hand in hand with your physical fitness. Cooking and cleaning are two activities that you need to have a good relationship with as you transition into adulthood and the challenges that come along with it. I always make sure my food is prepped and my room is clean every couple of days so I’m never in a pinch, stressing about everyday things.

One last thing that I find very important is to breathe. Sometimes, you just need to slow down and take deep breaths. This can also be useful to fall asleep easier. Anytime during the day, you can use this trick to slow down your racing thoughts and quickly improve your state of mind. This is typically the most recommended tool from licensed therapists in dealing with anxiety.

In conclusion, there are many different ways you can quickly improve your mental health on a daily basis. You have the tools, now it’s up to you to improve your quality of life. And remember, there is help everywhere you look.

Sources:

Mental health resources works cited:

• https://www.bsu.edu/campuslife/counseling-center

• https://www.bsu.edu/campuslife/counseling-center/resources/self-help

• https://www.bsu.edu/academics/centersandinstitutes/practicum/community-resources#accordion_mentalhealth