The Wanderer
Mental health affects many elements of our everyday lives, including how we think, act, and feel and can even affect our work, study and relationships. While many of us work on our physical wellbeing, sometimes we neglect to look after our social and emotional wellbeing, which does not allow us to be fully present within the community. Maintaining positive mental health and wellbeing also enables us to have meaningful social connections, positive self-esteem and can help us cope with those ups and downs that may pop up from time to time in our lives.
Remember, good health cannot exist without mental health! If you need help with the stresses and challenges that may come your way or if you’re looking to support those around you and not sure where to start, check out our top habit building strategies, along with some guidance on how and where to find professional support for your mental health and wellbeing.
SPEND TIME WITH FRIENDS
According to the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, no matter how old you are or what is happening around you, healthy friendships encourage positive mental health and wellbeing. This is because spending time with friends can help prevent isolation and loneliness and therefore increase your sense of belonging and purpose. Friends also offer emotional support and can help reduce stress, and a simple connection can go a long way in supporting another person who is going through a difficult time. While a phone call is great, nothing beats quality face-to-face time with those that emotionally energise you.
STAY ACTIVE
Exercising or engaging in regular physical activity can help reduce stress, boost your memory and if part of a sporting team, even reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation. This is because when we exercise, the brain releases ‘feel-good’ chemicals such as endorphins and serotonin which in turn, help improve our mood. While we don’t expect you to be running marathons, there are simple activities you can try that will allow you to exercise at your own pace. Everyday activities such as gardening, chores and cooking will still allow for these feel-good chemicals to be released. From here, try to moderately increase your movement each day by going for a walk, swim or bike ride.
ADEQUATE SLEEP
Lack of sleep can significantly impact your mental health and wellbeing; therefore, it is important you get adequate quality sleep each night. To help get enough quality sleep, try starting with a few simple habits such as avoiding caffeine after 3pm, and attempting to wake and go to sleep at the same time each day. You should also aim for at least eight hours of sleep per night, but listen to your body, if you need more, then do so. Even when you’re out on the road, getting enough sleep is crucial to your overall health. Try to find a nice quiet campsite for the night or if you find yourself in a busy campground or caravan park, try wearing some earplugs to reduce any outside noise. You might also consider installing blackout curtains or wearing an eye mask to minimise the effects of bright lights from well-lit sites.
REDUCE ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION
Alcohol is a depressant and as such can significantly impact both mental health and wellbeing. By slowing the body down and changing the chemical makeup in our brains, alcohol can have many effects including mood changes, our ability to cope with tough times and can even increase risky behaviour. If you are looking to have a few drinks, try setting a limit and sticking to it, pace yourself, and avoid drinking alone. You might even find you will start to sleep better at night, see an improvement in mood and have more energy.
If you or someone you know needs help or simply someone to talk to, there are several organisations across Australia you can contact who will provide support and education.
• Beyond Blue – Call 1300 22 4636. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. See beyondblue.org.au for more information.
• Lifeline – Call 13 11 14. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. See lifeline.org.au/ for more information.
• Open Arms – Call 1800 011 046. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. See openarms.gov.au/ for more information.
• Suicide Call Back Service - Call 1300 659 467. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. See
suicidecallbackservice.org.au/ for more information.
• Kids Helpline - Call 1800 55 1800. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. See kidshelpline.com.au/ for more information.
• MensLine Australia Call 1300 78 99 78. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. See mensline.org.au/ for more information.
Remember, mental health plays a fundamental role in our lives. Many factors that can potentially affect mental health remain beyond our control; however, adding beneficial habits to our daily routine can go a long way in promoting greater mental health and wellbeing.
Category: Features
Written: Tue 01 Aug 2023
Printed: August, 2024
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