Top 5 Mental Wellness Tips

In support of Mental Health Awareness for the month of October, our team decided to share our top 5 mental wellness tips.

1. Take Care of Your Body

Taking care of our body means getting enough exercise, eating well, and getting
enough sleep.

ExerciseExercise

Exericse has shown to be a great
stress reliever, and as university students, we know that stress is
something we face on a day to day basis. With exercise, it’ll improve our blood flow and release endorphins which will trigger positive feelings in our body. Furthermore, regular exercise can lead to less anxiety and less symptoms of depression. Looking to get started on incorporating exercise into your daily routine? Check out the Group Fitness classes available at TPASC to get started!

Food

Sometimes, the food selection on campus may not always be the best choices for your meals. Research suggests that healthy eating can help boost your mental health. Try to get a balanced breakfast and eat regular meals to keep your mood and energy levels steady. Packing fruits like apples and pears, or vegetables like carrots and celery, can be great snacks during study breaks.

Sleep

Finally, getting enough sleep is essential to your mental health. Imagine waking up a grizzly bear during its hibernation. The bear probably wouldn’t be too happy to be awake during this time. The same goes for us. Not getting enough sleep can make it hard to concentrate during class and can leave you being less productive. A good-quality sleep will allow us to wake up with a refreshed brain which will improve our mood, decision-making, and social interactions. Getting into a sleeping routine will help us to achieve the optimal hours (about 8 hours) of sleep each night.

2. Value YourselfRespect Yourself

There’s a saying that goes, “we are our worst critics”. However, we should always remember to treat ourselves with respect and avoid self-criticism.  Having “me-time” to do the things we love such as dancing, playing an instrument, and other hobbies, will help us to become more in-tune with ourselves.

3. Learn How to Deal with Stress

As mentioned above, stress is something we experience on a daily basis whether it’s the little things or even the big things. Exercising, nature walks in the valley, playing with a pet, journal writing, and mediation, are all forms of stress relievers. Find which one works for you best and use it to cope with life’s challenges. You can also try searching up funny jokes or memes during study breaks.  Research has shown that laughter can boost your immune system, ease pain, relax your body, and reduce stress.

4. Build a Healthy Support NetworkFriends and Support

Building healthy relationships with your family and friends are also important for your mental health. They help build our self-confidence, they are there to make us laugh, they are there when we need them, and most of all, they are there to make us feel loved. You can form these new relationships by joining a sports team, intramurals, clubs, or even by meeting someone new in your tutorial classes.

5. Connecting to things Bigger than You

Getting involved with different organizations and causes can help boost our mental health by giving us perspective and meaning. It’ll allow us to connect to others who also care about the same causes and goals. A great start to achieving this is to volunteer on campus! The Department of Student Life offers many opportunities and networks to connect with. You may even want to join the Athletics Department and volunteer with MoveU! The opportunities await you!

Click here for more information on how to improve your mental health.