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Try these ten things you can do help boost your mental health, according to expert psychiatrists and psychologists in the UAE.
How you can make your mental health a priority.
It can be easy for mental health to take a backseat to physical health, but a key part of staying healthy and fit is to take care of your moods and emotions. Good mental health can lead to clearer thinking, increased self-esteem, improvements in your relationships, reduced risk of depression, and reduction in anxiety.
There are plenty of ways you can keep yourself mentally healthy. Expert psychologists and psychiatrists at Mediclinic Parkview Hospital break down the best ways to balance or rebalance yourself.
Here are 10 tips for building good mental health while in Dubai, according to experts at Mediclinic Parkview Hospital.
1. Keep a positive attitude with or without professional psychological counselling
Consider these steps you can take on your own, without the need of a professional's hand:
- Try to see something positive in every negative situation.
- Do something nice everyday, even if don't feel like it.
- Negative thoughts are human and normal, but don't allow them to rule over.
- Avoid negative talk from yourself or others.
- Avoid negative people, avoid spending a lot of your time on social media, and too much bad news.
2. Remind yourself this is a passing phase in your life
If you're going through a difficult patch in your job or personal life, always remind yourself that nothing lasts forever. This difficult period too shall pass.
3. Create a set routine for each day
Draw up a schedule of what you’re going to do each day and at what time. It's very easy to forget to take care of ourselves when we fall into a depressive or anxious slump.
Get up, wash, dress, and exercise, have fixed meal times, and do specific tasks.
Create a “to do” list of things you never had the time for and schedule time for it.
4. Treat and nurture yourself
Try to avoid second-guessing if you deserve it! Treat yourself with good things, such as healthy food and juices, pleasant music, or even a spa day.
5. Get the feelings out
If you don’t want to talk about it, write it down.
A personal journal is a great way to write down your thoughts and feelings.
6. Keep a list of things you want to do in the future
When your troubling circumstances have passed, create a list of short and long term things you want to do.
For example, plan new hobbies, travelling, redecorating your living space. etc.
7. Surround yourself with positive things that make you feel special
Consider surrounding your space with beautiful and positive points, such as...
- Filling your room with beautiful pictures or cool stuff you like
- Keep positive quotes and good things people said about you
- Your favourite music
- Essential oils/aromatherapy candles
- Heaps of support and positive people
- Make a photo album of good memories (digital or hard copy)
8. Have something green and alive in your space
Keeping real plants, having pictures/posters/screen savers of nature pictures, or a Smart Garden, can help boost mental health.
Studies have found that maintaining indoor plants may help reduce physiological and psychological stress, and may also help with concentration and memory.
9. Manage stressors or delegate to capable others
Try not to take on too many responsibilities as this can lead to stress.
It's recommended to share your tasks with others to help lighten the load.
10. Keep your mind busy with positive things...
...otherwise, it will tend to wander to darker places.
Consider:
- Feel-good books
- Feel-good movies
- Art and crafts, such as paint, beading, or baking
Stay safe, you are not alone
If you're suffering from loneliness, anxiety, or depression, realise that your feelings are valid and that you should never have to suffer in silence.
Mediclinic Parkview Hospital's team of psychiatrists and psychologists can help empower you through life and work stress, mood swings, depression, eating disorders, and many other conditions.
Mental health support is also available for youth and adolescents. For appointments, please call 8001999.
For more information, visit Mediclinic Parkview Hospital's website here.
