Looking after our mental health is vital to our wellbeing. To help, the we've put together some steps you can take to support better mental health.

Get moving more

Exercise is a fantastic way to support your mental health, helping you feel a lot more positive. That’s because exercise releases powerful feel-good brain chemicals, including endorphins. In fact, exercise is so effective, GPs now prescribe it for mild depression. So whether it’s going to a boxing session, walking with friend or going for a run, adding some exercise into your day can really help. The guidelines suggest doing 30 mins of exercise a day.

Limit your screen time 

We know that phones and screens are a huge part of daily life, work and socialising, but too much screen time can increase feelings of stress, anxiety and low self-esteem. Reducing the amount of time you spend on a screen each day, even by small amounts, is a simple step to positively impacting your mental health.

Think about your daily routine

Creating your own positive daily routine is an excellent way to create structure into your day, helping you to relax, stay active and focus on your health, and fit in work or school. You can start small, but developing consistent, daily habits can really help your mental health.

If you need help with this, our Counterpunch team can help you create a routine that suits you.

Get outside

Getting outdoors and into nature is a great way to increase positive feelings and improve your mental health. Not only will getting outside help improve your physical health, time outdoors in the fresh air can help reduce feelings of stress and anger, as well as boost your self-esteem. 

Reduce negativity

The news and social media can be full of negative stories and reports that quickly become overwhelming, particularly due to current global events. One great way to improve your mental health is to reduce your exposure to negative media which can cause anxiety, and try not to stress about things out of your control.

It’s not easy, but actively taking a break from the news or social media for a while can really help.

Carry on learning

Learning something new is really powerful for better mental health, helping you develop new skills and discover new approaches to situations. So whether reading a new book, challenging yourself to do something different or listening to an interesting talk, choose a subject you find interesting and learn more about it. There are so many great resources to do this, including reading, podcasts and Ted Talks.

Eat and drink well

Not eating well will cause fatigue and a low mood which can impact your mental health, so looking at how you can improve your diet can be really helpful. Where possible, try to eat regular, balanced meals to help your mood and energy levels. Make sure you hydrate and drink water regularly, too- it’s essential for feeling more energised. We recommend aiming for 8 big glasses of water a day.

Sleep 

Sleep is essential in stabilising your mood, but it can be tricky, especially in periods of worry and challenging mental health. If possible, try to wake up and go to bed at the same time each day (remember those routines are powerful) and try to have some screen-free time before going to sleep.

Please contact Bright Star to find out more about our boxing sessions, alternative education provision, or our support for mental health.