Our mental health affects how we think, feel, act and generally cope with life. Neglecting our mental health can lead to serious mental health concerns, such as anxiety or depression, and can have an flow-on effect on everything we do. 

It can also affect us physically, affecting our ability to make healthy decisions and fight off chronic diseases.

So, what are some things we can do every day to improve our mental health? 

Positive Affirmations

Positive affirmations  are a popular technique used in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, which can replace a person's existing thoughts that may be untrue and detrimental to their own mental health, with ones that affirm one's self-worth positively. 

Consistency and repetition are definitely key in seeing results! Most people will definitely need to practise this on a daily basis, whether it's through repeating a positive phrase to themselves every morning or writing it down, or even doing some mirror work where they look themselves in the eyes whilst saying it. Some people have a really low self-image, which can take a lot of time to correct, and it is normally an ongoing process. 

Believing in affirmations takes time and unfortunately for most it is not an overnight thing! It is the result of weeks and months' worth of self-work, where a person continually re-affirms what they've been saying to themselves. It's a process of literally trying to train your brain into believing what you're saying and stopping that negative inner voice.

Exercise

Exercise offers so much more than a healthy body — it can be the foundation of a healthy mind too. Getting in some exercise every single day (even if it's just a brisk 30-minute walk) can do wonders for your mental health. You've probably heard this (and felt the effects) of the feel-good endorphins that exercise emits, triggering a positive feeling in the brain and body. The trick with exercise is usually the first step. 

We can spend all day dreading doing it, but if you simply get your exercise gear on and force yourself out the door, you're halfway there. 

Mindfulness activity

The phrase 'mindfulness' can at first sound a little woo woo for some people, but mindfulness doesn't have to be an out-there activity. We've heard about the benefits of mindful activities like yoga and meditation, but the truth is, many activities we do throughout the day can be considered 'mindful' so long as you take a moment to bring yourself into the present. 

Things like cooking or having a bath may be part of your everyday routine and the great news is that you can make these activities mindful ones if you focus on being in the here and now. Whatever activity you're doing, start by being fully present, rather than being overwhelmed or stressed from your thoughts or the day's activities. 

Consider what you're actually doing rather than doing it on auto-pilot, without thinking or with other distractions. 

Make Connections 

As humans, we need connection with other humans — in fact, we actually thrive on social interactions. 

Research shows that having a strong network of support or strong community bonds fosters both emotional and physical health and is an important component of adult life. Even small connections with other humans have been proven to improve our mood, so try to develop social connections whenever you can (even if it's just buying a stranger or colleague coffee). You'll be guaranteed to improve your mood with this connection. 

 Be generous

 Being generous doesn't have to mean spending a lot of money, or in some cases, spending any money. A person can be generous with their time or thoughts, so if you don't have cash to burn on gifts, or being generous with your money, send a thank you note or offer someone your time. While some of us aren't naturally generous, it's a great act to practise, which will actually end up making you — and someone else — feel good.

Practice gratitude

Expressing gratitude can do wonders for our souls, especially if you make it a daily habit. Gratitude is imperative for putting our lives in perspective and making us appreciate everything we have. Saying thanks to the universe or even to a complete stranger makes you feel connected and aware of the abundance in your life. 

This helps to be able to appreciate the smaller things, rather than always feeling like you need to seek out the bigger things. Feeling grateful for the little things brings a lot of satisfaction and sometimes we need to take some time to be mindful to actually do that. 

Talk to someone 

Sometimes if you're feeling low, stressed, or generally out of sorts, being able to verbalise those feelings can do wonders. 

It might help to have someone there for you to vent your feelings, and it might help to have someone offer advice to manage. Seek out a loved one or friend, however if you don't feel comfortable chatting to someone close to you, seek out the help of a professional. 

A professional can help arm you with the right advice and specific ways to approach things, whilst being there to work through any issues that might arise.
Services like Beyond Blue and Lifeline provide free over the phone support with trained experts.

Services like Lysn provide access to psychologists via phone or video chat, which can be accessed from the comfort of your own home. These kinds of services can be available at your discretion so can really help if you are running a busy schedule as you can engage in therapy when it suits you — no matter the time.