At Clinique GO™, we make a point of educating our clients and the public about important mental health issues. While our team of psychologists and social workers are available to you if you feel you need support, it is first and foremost important to know how to preserve our mental health. This means adopting good habits and maintaining a strong support network. We thought we would prepare this article to offer you 7 tips that everyone should implement to preserve their mental health.
1. Regular physical activity
Physical activities of any kind allow our bodies to secrete dopamine and serotonin, also known as “happy hormones”. These hormones generally cause a feeling of euphoria and well-being, and lower the level of cortisol in the body. Cortisol is directly associated with stress. Regularly practicing physical activities that you enjoy and seeing that you improve as you do so is also very beneficial for your personal confidence.
We have dedicated an entire article to the effects of sport on mental health. It gives advice on how to get the most out of your practice!
2. Adopting healthy lifestyle habits
Beyond the regular practice of physical activities and the benefits on physical and mental health, it is also important to maintain good lifestyle habits. This means eating a healthy diet on a daily basis, which can have a direct effect on stress management, since the body has more energy when it consumes healthy foods.
In addition, sleep has a direct impact on mental health, as it helps the body maintain good cognitive abilities, while helping us regulate our emotions. It goes without saying that it is essential to get about 8 hours of sleep per night and to adopt good sleep habits, such as a regular bedtime schedule!
3. Maintain a social circle
Maintaining good relationships with those around you and maintaining friendships is essential for everyone. Isolation can have harmful psychological effects, especially for people who are more at risk of suffering from mental health problems. Your relationships and the people who are important to you are your support network, a safety net that is very important when you are going through difficult times. These people are also there to share your joys!
4. Manage your stress
Increased heart rate and blood pressure, increased risk of obesity, great fatigue, depression… Stress, when it is prolonged or recurs frequently, can greatly affect your mental health, but also your physical health. In addition to adopting good lifestyle habits and engaging in regular physical activity, you can implement certain strategies to learn how to control your stress, such as mediation, yoga or tai chi. Consultations with a psychologist can also give us personalized tools to better learn how to manage our stress.
5. Engage in activities that matter to you
Leisure activities are important because, in addition to being a stress reliever, they directly influence our mood and our sense of well-being on a daily basis. Despite your family and professional responsibilities, make sure you set aside time each week to do the hobbies and activities that are important to you. It is also important to note that hobbies often allow you to meet people who share the same interests and to forge new ties.
6. Maintain a balance in your professional life
Work is important, but it is not your whole life! It is important to maintain a balance between personal and professional life. We must avoid situations where professional responsibilities risk getting the best of us, while being aware of situations that, in the longer term, risk wearing down our psychological health.
7. Do not wait to consult a professional
Finally, it is important to remember that we are never alone in dealing with difficult or more complex situations regarding our mental health. Psychologists are professionals who can intervene with different clienteles to help them regain, or maintain, good psychological health. Above all, don’t wait until you feel like you’re at the end of your rope before seeking help. Turn to a professional if you feel like you’re about to reach your limit or when you feel unprepared for a complex situation.
One of the ways that the psychologists at Clinique GO™ offer online psychology consultation services. Now that’s a versatile and beneficial service in many situations!
Approuvé par Francis Desjardins
