Five top tips for switching off and focusing on your mental health
Focusing on our mental health is more important than ever before. One in four people across the UK face mental health problems each year, while one in six of us experience a common mental health problem, such as anxiety or depression every week.
In the current climate, the struggles really are real, with economic issues, wars to worry about, seeing the back of the pandemic and that’s on top of the daily stresses with work, relationships, looking after families and so on. It’s no wonder so many of us are struggling.
That certainly seems to be the case, with more people seeking help than ever before. At UKAT, a mental health clinic London way, the scale of people checking in is rising rapidly, trying to combat the daily stresses of living in the city. To combat this and promote a more positive mental health in our lives, there are many methods in which you can make coping much more manageable.
At UKAT, and across many other mental health clinics nationwide, they provide a range of tactics to do this, as well as providing a number of tips to take into everyday life. These include:
Embrace Digital Detox
One way in which you may feel a benefit is by switching off from the digital world we live in. A digital detox can be hugely beneficial and spending a set time per day to disconnect can provide you with the opportunity to engage in more mindful activities as well as giving your eyes a break from a screen, which can disrupt sleep quality and patterns.
What’s more, by stepping away from the likes of social media for a period, it can significantly reduce stress, with around a fifth of US adults citing technology as a major stress point in their life. So, let go of it for a little while.
Prioritize Quality Sleep
Life can be busy and it can often feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day. However, sleep is such an important part of maintaining good mental health. Establishing a consistent sleep routine, aiming for seven to nine hours of sleep per night, and creating a comfortable sleep environment are essential steps to ensure restful nights.
What’s more, bringing the digital detox back into play, avoiding screen time before bedtime can really benefit as well as practicing relaxation techniques.
Cultivate Mindfulness Practices
Across mental health clinics, mindfulness practices are always encouraged. The likes of yoga and meditation can be a key part of a daily routine, allowing people to live in the moment, focus on breathing and fostering a sense of calm, clarity and relaxation.
By adding mindfulness practices, whether it be at the start of the day, at the end or even at lunchtimes, you can really help maintain good mental health and take on any challenges that are thrown your way.
Establish Boundaries
Importantly, and something so many of us don’t do, is establishing boundaries, particularly when it comes to work and leisure time. We often take our work home with us, continuing into the night or stressing about what we’ve got to do the next day.
We should communicate our limits to others, but also use mindfulness practices or hobbies to be the break between finishing work and starting your own personal time.
Engage in Hobbies and Leisure
Finally, taking time to enjoy what you enjoy doing is so, so important. Hobbies and activities are therapeutic ways to switch off, recharge and bring joy and fulfillment to your life. What’s more, they can also provide social interaction that can be hugely beneficial to mental health, reducing the risk of loneliness and bringing a real balance to your life that will encourage a more positive outlook on our mental health.
