Some say that life is a blessing and a curse. While it’s no doubt that our country has been through some tumultuous times, you must keep going. You may start in the morning with a smile on your face, and by noon the stress of the day has beaten you down. Being mentally strong will see you through these challenging days.
When you are stressed, it’s easy to become fatigued as well as disconnected from those around you. Your mental wellbeing links to your physical health. The mind-body connection cannot be denied. So how do you stay mentally strong when the stress and pressures of life try to keep you down?
Here are 11 ways to help you during tough times
1. Don’t Neglect Your Friends and Family
The first thing you want to do when life gets hard is to isolate. Do you find that you want to close yourself off in your bedroom and sleep your life away? You feel that if you go to sleep that when you wake up, your problems will miraculously disappear.
You should know that you are not alone. When tough times come, the worst thing you could do is to close yourself off. You’ll find strength when you are with people who love and care about you. When you take yourself out of your inner circle of care, you can quickly develop depression.
Don’t let life take you away from those you love. To be mentally strong, you need the strength in others.
2. Enjoy Life
While it may seem impossible to enjoy life when everything is going wrong, it’s essential for your overall health. Do you like to do crossword puzzles, play video games, watch movies, or meditate? What is the thing that helps you to free your mind from stress and refocus on something positive?
You should set aside an hour every day that is dedicated to doing the things you love. Take a walk through the park or spend an hour scrapbooking. Whatever it takes to keep you mentally strong and content. Life isn’t about all work and no play.
3. Laugh Often
Do you notice how light and carefree you feel when you’re laughing? Are there people in your life that bring humor and joy to you? There is a medical reason why you should be jolly as it helps to improve your overall wellbeing.
A study was done in Japan that tested people in their golden years. The purpose was to see how laughter helped to reduce heart disease. One group was exposed to funny things that caused them to laugh, while the other group didn’t laugh at all.
Over a period of time, the group that laughed and had a lighthearted approach to life had better cardiovascular health. Additionally, they had lower rates of depression too. The group who didn’t laugh had more health problems and were at a higher risk of stroke and heart attacks.
Laughter is the best medicine, and now science can back up that theory.
4. Count Your Blessings
It’s hard to be depressed or angry at life when you count your blessings. There is always someone who has it worse off than you. It may seem as if the whole world is caving in on you, but your blessings will far outweigh your problems.
Did you get up and have breakfast this morning? Did you have a comfy bed to sleep in and heat or air conditioning in your home? Some people live on the streets and don’t know where their next meal will come from, but you are blessed. Focus on all you have rather than what you want. It will change your whole outlook on life.
5. Eat Healthy Foods
Your diet can cause you to be depressed, sluggish, and can make you feel miserable. The Keto diet is all the craze these days and for a good reason. People are losing a ton of weight by chucking processed and sugary foods. However, did you know that getting rid of sugar in your diet can improve your mental clarity?
The Keto diet was initially created to help those with epilepsy because it has such an impact on the brain. When you are feeling sad or depressed, the first thing you probably want to do is reach for the junk food. However, it’s the worst thing for your body.
When you eat healthily, you will feel better. When you feel better on the inside, it will reflect on the outside.
6. Do Something Different
Do you ever feel like your life is the same old, same old? Do you get up to go to work, come home and go to bed? You need to break up the monotony of life.
Do something different that will make you feel better. Why not grab coffee with a friend or take the dog to the park? When you break up the daily grind by doing something unexpected, it can help to keep you mentally strong.
7. Give Back
The Golden Rule says that giving to others feels so much better than receiving, and it’s true. Why not do a random act of kindness towards someone? Have you ever paid for the order for the car behind you in the drive-thru line?
What about taking a warm blanket or a bouquet to someone in a nursing home? What can you do to give back to society? You could make your family work in a soup kitchen or do something to help those less fortunate.
It’s hard to stay beaten down when you get an energy boost from giving back.
8. Pamper Yourself
If you work hard, then you deserve to be pampered a bit. When is the last time that you had a manicure or pedicure? What can you do that will make you feel better about you? Maybe you should try a new hairstyle or buy a new outfit?
When all you do is work every day, it’s hard to stay mentally strong. Go ahead, take that weekend away, or a spur of the moment vacation. You deserve it.
9. Learn Effective Ways to Deal with Stress
Stress is a part of your life, and there’s no getting rid of it. One of the best ways that you can stay mentally strong is by developing appropriate coping mechanisms. Many people turn to drugs or alcohol, trying to self-medicate the pain.
Thankfully, there are many beautiful ways that you can deal with your angst healthily. One of the best ways to release your anxiety is through meditation, and another great stress buster is yoga. When you learn proper breathing techniques and coping mechanisms, the littlest things won’t bother you anymore.
10. Get Adequate Rest
Are you getting enough sleep? If you feel that you are not mentally strong, then it could be because your sleep schedule is all off. You need at least seven hours of uninterrupted rest each night.
You cannot live without sleep. If you don’t get the right amount, then your body quickly develops a deficiency. The deficiency will cause you to have all sorts of health problems, including anxiety and depression.
It’s during your rest that your body is working hard to heal and restore, which is why the doctor always tells you to sleep when you are sick. If you’re skipping hours of much-needed rest to try to accomplish everything you need to do, you’re asking for trouble.
11. Know When to Ask for Help
You are not a superhero, and you can’t do this life alone. If you want to stay mentally strong, then you need to know when to ask for help. Another thing that you must do is know when to say “no.”
Life can be overwhelming, and it’s especially difficult if you take on more than you can handle. When you learn to say no, and you ask others for help, you take control of your mental health. Don’t worry about things you cannot get too. Remember, tomorrow is another day.
Final Thoughts on Staying Mentally Strong (even when during challenging days)
Life is so full of many uncertainties, and it’s extremely easy to get mentally exhausted dealing with the stress and drama of it all. However, you have an obligation to yourself and your family to take care of your health.
When you feel that things are getting to be too much, then you may need to reach out to a counselor or other mental health professional. There are many holistic treatments available. Medication just masks the problem, and you need to find a way to cope and deal with the things that are happening.
Lastly, lean on your inner circle. They can bring you comfort and peace when you need it most. Depression wants to isolate and destroy you by separating you from those you love and need. However, you can and will come through the storms of life better if you learn appropriate coping mechanisms.
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