Mental health has become the center of talk, especially during this current pandemic. And with so many who feel there’s no way out, there are those who will inspire you to think otherwise. From the clinical to the non-clinical, there are more methods for improving your mental health than we’d like to believe.
Jihyun talks about the ways she was able to take control of her mental health.
Proper treatment should always be the first step when it comes to mental illnesses. Unfortunately, healthcare is not accessible to all. And while therapy and treatment are important, it is not the end-all-be-all of bettering your mental health.
I had been in treatment for my major depression for ten years, but I wasn’t making significant progress because I wasn’t committed fully. And I didn’t do anything to improve my physical and mental health other than showing up to my appointments.
I decided to make some lifestyle changes to commit to changing how I feel, and my mental health has never been better. So here are the changes I made to improve my mental health.
Getting 8 hours of regular sleep
I oscillated between insomnia and sleeping my days away, with no in-between. As a result, I would feel sluggish all of the time, and it was so weird. Once you sleep more than 10 hours a day, sleeping more makes you feel more lethargic.
Getting 8 hours of sleep, no more and no less, made me feel so much more rejuvenated each morning. The improved mood in the morning would continue throughout the day.
I fixed my sleep schedule with the help of my psychiatrist. He told me that if I stick to waking up at a certain time in the morning and stay awake until night, being able to sleep at an appropriate time in the night will follow. It was true. I now sleep at eleven at night and wake up at seven in the morning, and I feel so much better.
Eating well and being active
“A sound mind in a sound body,” said Thales, a Greek philosopher that came before Socrates. 500 BC was a long time ago, yet those words survive to this day because they are truthful. Taking care of your physical health does help your mental health.
Not eating well and not being active makes you feel physically unwell and gives you the psychological guilt of not looking after your body. Taking care of your body that your mind lives in is the first step to bettering your mental health.
Junk food may be delicious and convenient, but foods high in sodium and processed carbs make you feel physically lethargic, which is terrible for your overall mood. Eating vegetables and fruits with enough protein will help you feel energized.
Exercise is good for your mind as well as for your body. I find that intense exercise clears my head, and I always have better mental clarity after my gym session. It also helps me sleep a lot better.
Once I started working out regularly and stopped eating junk food all the time, I felt so good. It’s not just the physiological effects of doing what’s good for your health. The act of looking after your body is in itself good for your mental health.
Being adequately productive
Rest is good for you, but spending too much time doing nothing will make you feel worse. When I have too much time on my hands, I feel anxious, and my own thoughts eat me alive. You have to walk a thin line of balance of productivity between getting nothing done and overworking.
Being intentional about how you spend your time is what matters. Having a plan and incorporating rest into my routine has helped me so much in being productive while maintaining that balance. Toxic productivity is real, and it is easy to fall into the trap of feeling like you have to be at maximum productivity at all times, but that will lead to exhaustion.
I made the mistake of working myself too much, resulting in a burnout episode where I really couldn’t do anything. Now I understand that rest is an important part of sustaining a productive lifestyle. Having a purpose and actively working towards it, and knowing when to take breaks has been the best thing for my mental health.
Being in positive social surroundings
Many people are depressed these days, and the world is not exactly set up for people to be happy, especially in this pandemic era. While commiserating can feel cathartic, wallowing in it can get you stuck.
Once I stepped away from negative influences and surrounded myself with more positivity, I found myself in a better headspace. It can be hard to distance yourself from people in your life, even if you know they’re affecting you negatively. I had to be honest with them that while I still care for them, they were impacting me negatively. I encouraged them to be more positive and told them I would welcome them when they’re ready to change.
What you’re exposed to online is also important. I unfollowed accounts that posted self-deprecating memes and joined an uplifting community, and I now find myself inspired and hopeful. Knowing that I am not alone in my struggle and in my journey to better mental health is more reassuring than depressing content that I used to think I could “relate” to. You are in control of your feed, so make sure every account you follow is having a positive impact on you.
Keeping my space tidy
Cluttered space leads to cluttered thoughts. I used to sit around in the mess I made and feel stuck. There’s something about a messy space that just drags me down. Once I rolled up my sleeves and cleaned up, I felt so accomplished. I also discovered that cleaning is a healing process in itself.
Putting stuff back to where they belong and wiping off dust really rejuvenates my soul. Even though the act itself is laborious, I feel so refreshed afterward. Now cleaning is a part of my weekend routine, and I always start the following week feeling fresh and motivated.
Conclusion
Those are the lifestyle changes I made that helped better my mental health. Going through depression is a tumultuous journey; I still fall into a slump from time to time. But I am able to get back on track every time because I know what I need to do to get back up. I hope you incorporate these things into your life and find yourself in a better space mentally and physically.
Love, Jihyun
Thank you, Jihyun, for being my first contributor and sharing your story. I am proud of you and what you have accomplished. You can find out more about Jihyun by visiting her blog and giving her a follow on Twitter and Instagram.
About Author:
Jihyun Kim is a 27-year-old woman from Seoul, Korea. She is a full-time software engineer, a part-time blogger, and a creative. She spends her free time making music and writing fiction. She has struggled with depression for over ten years and is now on a journey to improve herself and her life. Join her at her blog, Jihyun’s Journey.
Blog: https://jihyunsjourney.com
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/jihyunsjourney
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jihyunsjourney
I’m so happy for you Jihyun. Depression is rough.
These are great tips. I’ve been experiencing similar improvements in my mental health by building daily habits in these areas.
The one that surprises me the most is keeping your space tidy.
I was never a fan of housecleaning and was always disorganized. But the past couple years, I’ve been taking more initiative to do simple tasks around the house – washing dishes more often, taking time to fold my clothes instead of just having a “clean pile” – things like that.
I always feel better after tidying up my home. Even if I only spend 2-3 minutes, it still makes me feel better.