5 Tips to Improve your Mental Health for 2024

Chronic stress and anxiety can wreak havoc on your mental health. Not only can ongoing stress lead to clinical depression, suicidal ideations, and even more serious mental issues, but it can be difficult to get diagnosed and treated for a serious mental illness. If you feel that your mental health has been negatively affected by stress and other issues, then there are ways to naturally improve it before it becomes unmanageable. Here are five tips from You Need {ther • happy} for improving your mental health for 2024.

Keep a Gratitude Journal

Showing gratitude for the things that you already have in your life, regardless of how small they are, can help you live a happier life while attracting more things that bring happiness. It's a very simple but effective concept, and many people who have begun keeping gratitude journals have reported greater levels of happiness, lower levels of depression, and higher self-esteem. Keeping a gratitude journal isn't something that will work overnight, but by consistently keeping the journal, you will notice more and more improvements as time passes.

Become More Active

Everyone needs regular activity, and being more active can increase endorphins in your brain, which can offset depression and anxiety. You don't have to do CrossFit in order to reap the benefits of being more active, and something as simple as adding a 30-minute walk into your daily regimen can make a huge difference in your mental health.

Consider Aromatherapy Oils

Aromatherapy mists and oils have many different types of uses, especially depending on what you are trying to treat. When it comes to your mental health, eucalyptus might be a good option. Eucalyptus improves breathing and the promotion of oxygenation throughout your body, which can help with your overall mental well-being. Taking a bath is also a great way to relax and de-stress. Adding essential oils to your bath can aid in that benefit and take your relaxation to the next level.

Clean Up Your Diet

If your diet consists of unhealthy processed and fast foods, then believe it or not, this can cause your mental health to decline. By limiting fast foods and processed junk, you can dramatically improve your mental health in as little as a few weeks. Eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, seeds, low-fat protein, whole grains, and healthy fats can also improve mental health, keeping depression and anxiety at bay. Cleaning up your diet doesn't mean that you must completely eliminate your favorite junk foods, but you should simply try treating yourself to them on occasion.

Improve the Quality of Your Sleep

If you haven't been sleeping seven to eight hours a night each night, then your mental health could definitely be affected. In order to feel your absolute best in every way, adequate amounts of quality sleep is necessary. So, if you find that you need to improve your sleep, then there are many ways to do so, whether you suffer from insomnia, you have difficulty remaining asleep, or you simply don't have time for seven to eight hours of sleep each night. Analyze your sleep schedule and identify the sleep problems that may need work. If you need to invest in a weighted blanket, sound machine, or some trusted supplements, then do whatever you must to ensure you get adequate sleep on a regular basis.