Most Americans believe that mental health is just as important as physical health. In fact, emotional and physical well being go hand-in-hand, according to the University of California at San Francisco. Deepak Chopra, author of "The Happiness Prescription," writing for Best Health, agrees. He claims that true happiness occurs when the mind and the body work together as one. Maintaining a positive attitude is an important aspect of maintaining good overall health.
Reach Out to Others
Sharing meals, books and other activities is a means for family and friends to form closer bonds that can lead to an enhanced sense of well-being, according to Mental Health America. Having a strong social support network of family and friends enhances your emotional well-being by giving you a sense of belonging, along with increased security and a greater sense of self-worth, according to the Mayo Clinic. Share your feelings with others, especially about things that are bothering you, to gain support and encouragement, advises the University of California at San Francisco and HelpGuide.org.
Monitor Your Internal Dialogue
An essential aspect of your state of mind is self talk, or the internal dialogue that you have with yourself. Best Health recommends taking an objective approach, rather than automatically assuming the worst. The Mayo Clinic advises actively working to change the stream of your self talk from largely negative to mostly positive. Developing positive self talk has benefits beyond improving your mood. Health benefits of a positive attitude include increased resistance to physical illness, reduced risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease and a longer life span.
Move Your Body
Regular moderate exercise can boost your self-esteem and your energy levels, as well as keeping the symptoms of depression at bay, according to the Mayo Clinic and HealthGuide.org. You don't necessarily need to hit the gym; activities such as riding a bicycle or even walking are excellent forms of exercise. Try to get at least 10 or 15 minutes of daylight exposure each day, which also lifts your mood.
Take Time For Yourself
We all have obligations we must meet, but we should not always put ourselves last, according to the University of California at San Francisco. It's also important to find time to do things we enjoy, if only for a few minutes each day. The Mayo Clinic agrees, stating that it's important to take a break and let things go that are beyond our control to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
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