TIPS FOR BETTER MENTAL HEALTH

HOW TO MAINTAIN / PROMOTE / IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH + WELLBEING

OTHER TIPS

TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY

• Eat well
• Watch your alcohol use. Don't use it as a way to hide your problems.
• Watch how much sugar you eat as it can lower your mood and make you feel more irritable
• Watch out for too much caffeine as it can add to feelings of anxiety and stop you from sleeping well
• Eat regularly
• Exercise
• Exercise with someone else
• Focus on how the activity makes you feel
• Pick an activity that you enjoy
• Go for a walk
• Get enough sleep
  
• Avoid sleeping pills. They may help you fall asleep faster, but do not give you a good, restful sleep.
  
• Avoid naps during the day if it's hard to sleep at night
• Create and follow a routine
• Stick to quiet activities before bed
• Make sure your room is comfortable for sleeping
• Avoid big meals, alcohol, cigarettes, and caffeine before bed
• Avoid exercising too close to your bedtime
• The exact amount of sleep you need is based on your own body

PRACTICE HEALTHY THINKING

• Watch for thinking traps
• Thinking that something can only be all good or all bad
• Thinking that bad things always happen to you
• Focusing only on the negative part of a situation
  
• Jumping to conclusions before you know what really happened
  
• Challenge your thinking trap by looking at the facts
• If my friend was in the same situation, what would I tell them?
• Have I been in this position before? What happened then?
• Have I thought about all sides of the situation?
• Is there any proof to back up this thought?
• Solve problems
• Decide what the problem is
  
• Think of different solutions or end goals
  
• Pick the solution that you think will work the best
  
• Plan what steps you need to take
  
• Put your plan into action

SLOW DOWN

• How you relax is up to you
  
• Attending community group classes
  
• Reading, doing art, exercising, spending time in nature, or playing with pets
• Popular activities: yoga, meditation, tai chi, and breathing exercises

HAVE FUN

• Make a list of the things that you can do each day that you make you happy
  
• Do things that you enjoy

REACH OUT

• Find support
  
• Share good times
  
• Help and learn from each other
  
• Connect with others
  
• Some people are good at dealing with feelings and providing comfort
  
• Some people are good at helping out
  
• Some people are good at sharing a different point of view and looking at problems more realistically
  
• Some people are good at sharing information and can help find better solutions
  
• Ask for help
  
• Think of new ways to meet people
  
• Join a support group
  
• Let go of bad relationships
  
• Get help when you need it
  

BE NICE TO YOURSELF