5 small changes that can positively influence your mental health

1. Keep your room tidy

There is certainly a reason the saying ‘tidy room, tidy mind’ exists. Setting a few minutes aside each day to tidy up your room can have a number of benefits. When day to day life often feels so busy, the simplicity of coming home to an organised room can make your mind feel more organised and help you wind down. Even if you don’t have time to tidy your whole room, making your bed in the morning means there’s something you have achieved that day. Albeit a small achievement, we all know that after a hectic day, sometimes all it takes is that one piece of mess to tip you over the edge.

2. Keep a journal

There are a number of different ways to journal, each having their own perks and benefits. One example is a gratitude journal, writing down something each or every other day that you are grateful for serves as a reminder of how much we all have to live for and how lucky we are. Another journaling idea is to write down something good that happens each day. This means that even when you’re having a bad day and feel like the whole world is turning against you, you can take a look back at some nice memories and be reminded that there is also a whole lot of good in the world even in the darkest of times.

3. Try and find routine

Whilst getting into a routine is often easier said than done, it can be dealt with one step at a time, creating structure in your day to day life with each step. Even if your first step is simply aiming to get up and go to sleep at the same time each day, it will nonetheless create a pattern in your daily routine. Another step, perhaps, may be to prepare your lunch for the following day whilst you make your dinner. This simultaneously adds a further element of routine whilst having one less thing to worry about the next day.

4. Exercise daily

The beneficial impact of exercise on mental health is widely known, though it is easy to be intimidated by the thought of working out. It’s important to know that exercise doesn’t have to be having a gym session or going on a 5k run every day, it can simply be walking to the end of the road and back, doing a half an hour session of yoga in your living room or going to a dance class. Finding even the smallest amount of time each day to stretch your legs and get some fresh air is guaranteed to help clear your head.

5. Spend time away from your phone

Another change you can make is to spend time away from your phone, this will not only benefit yourselves but those around you. When spending time with friends, being attached to your phone can seem ignorant and make them feel as if you don’t enjoy their company. Putting down your phone around others gives you the chance to be more present and truly enjoy spending time together. Whilst on your own, turning your phone off allows you to really spend time alone with your thoughts and process everything that’s going on in your life at that current moment.