Ways to improve mental health

One of Tony Robbins’ central philosophies is that of state, where your thoughts, feelings and physical body work together to shape your overall experience of life. To really get a handle on how to improve mental health, embrace the fact that your state is within your control. One step at a time, you can steer your outlook, emotions and physiology toward greater resilience. With this perspective in mind, you can be proactive in building a vibrant, fulfilling life.

Your self-care practices form the backbone of how to improve mental health. When you take care of yourself, you’re prioritizing your own happiness. Self-care is highly individualized, so pick strategies that work for you. In addition to regular exercise and a nutritious diet, try calming rituals like meditation, reading, warm baths or time spent with loved ones.

As you begin familiarizing yourself with ways to improve mental health, mastering your emotions can seem impossible. But with practice, you can reset your mind and mood to create a more positive outlook. With practice, you gain greater insight into the limiting beliefs that contribute to your distress.

Regular exercise is a cornerstone of learning how to improve mental health. Research reported by the National Institute of Health demonstrates that exercise is of great importance for individuals experiencing mental health symptoms. By increasing blood flow and reducing reactivity to stress, aerobic exercise ameliorates mental health symptoms like anxiety and depression. Exercise also stimulates parts of the brain related to mood, including the limbic system (which controls drive/motivation), amygdala (which regulates fear responses to stress) and hippocampus (which impacts memory formation and overall effect).

Harvard Health reports on the role of nutrition in mental health. Your brain is always working, even while you are asleep. Like a professional athlete, your brain requires high-quality nourishment to function optimally and rid itself of oxidative stress. Foods that improve mental health (and overall well-being) include vegetables, fruits, unprocessed grains and seafood, with modest amounts of dairy and healthy fats. When you’re working on ways to improve mental health, avoid processed foods, high-sugar foods and toxins like too much alcohol and caffeine.

When you’re feeling anxious or overwhelmed, taking a deep breath is one of the most powerful tools at your disposal. When you take a deep breath, it sends a message to your brain to relax. Your brain then forwards this message to the rest of your body, facilitating deep relaxation. From here, you’re able to evaluate your life and circumstances objectively. To get a better handle on your breathing, consider building mindfulness meditation into your daily routine.

The people you surround yourself with have a profound impact on your mental well-being. One of the most effective ways to improve mental health is hand-picking your social network. When you’re surrounded by negative, critical people, it’s difficult (if not impossible) to embrace a positive outlook. But when you surround yourself with people who support you, their positivity can be infectious. You begin to see yourself as a competent, most valuable player, since the people around you are consistently echoing that message to you.