Boost Your Brain with Five Simple Ways to Improve Mental Health

I’m so glad that winter is FINALLY over. The cold, dark and dreary days were having a serious effect on my mood. Some people might refer to it as “Seasonal Affective Disorder,” or SAD. Sometimes a serious change in mood can be a symptom to a much bigger, more serious, disorder.

If you find that your mood is a bit “off” these days, try these great tips from NurseWise which provides multilingual telehealth (nurse triage and health education) services for hospitals, colleges, health plans, providers and more.

Mood disorders – such as depression – are the third most common cause of hospitalizations for both kids and adults in the US, according for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. In honor of “Mental Health Awareness Month,” the health experts at NurseWise bring you five simple ways to improve your mood and mental health.

Go for a walk (outside if possible!) Research shows that if you exercise regularly, you are more productive and have more energy than your colleagues. Working up a sweat can help manage mental stress and physical well-being. Exercise releases endorphins, which create feelings of happiness and euphoria.

Connect with others. It is extremely important to develop and maintain strong relationships with people around you that will support and enrich your life. The quality of our personal relationships has a direct effect on our well-being. Make spending time with people you enjoy a priority. Choose to associate yourself with friends, family, neighbors and co-workers who are upbeat, positive and interested in you.

Get more shut-eye! Americans are notoriously sleep deprived, rarely getting the needed seven to eight hours of sleep our bodies need. The quality of your sleep can have a significant impact on your mood, energy levels and ability to concentrate. Sleep also allows the brain to take in new information and strengthen knowledge already stored. Having trouble getting to sleep? Try these three tips:

• Avoid caffeine four to six hours before bedtime.
• Turn your bedroom into a place that relaxes you and induces slumber.
• Establish a pre-sleep routine to tell your body it’s time for bed.

Take your vitamins. You likely know taking vitamins have health benefits, but did you know Vitamin B12 – which directly impacts your mood, concentration and energy levels – is also the most common vitamin deficiency in the United States? Since animal foods are the only dependable source, people who eat little or no meat are particularly at risk. If your memory isn’t what it used to be or if you feel like you’re in a state of brain fog, you may have a B12 deficiency. The good news? Supplements can bring your levels back up quickly.

Eat a well-balanced diet. One of the best things you can do for your mental health is to eat a healthy diet. A Medical News Today study conducted in 2013 showed 11,000 middle-aged adults lived longer, had better cognitive function and mental health than others after following a Mediterranean diet consisting of beans, nuts, cereals, seeds, plant-based foods and fruits.

If you would like more tips and information about improving your mental health please visit www.MentalHealth.Gov.

Kimberly

*I was not compensated for this post. I posted this for the enjoyment and benefit of my site readers.

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