By Brittany Fisher
It can sometimes be hard to find time to take care of yourself. Fortunately, there are several simple, outside-the-box ways to prioritize your mental health, even if you’re short on free time or money. So the next time you’re feeling stressed out or anxious, the NEO Chi Institute invites you to consider trying one of these ten mental health hacks you didn’t know you needed.
1. NEO Chi Lifestyle
The NEO Chi Liefstyle is all about balance. In an increasingly stressful and hectic world, it can be easy to lose sight of what’s important. This lifestyle encompasses both the physical and the mental, and focuses on achieving harmony between the two. One key component of this lifestyle is mindful framing. Mindful framing is all about framing the way we view the world leveraging our mind’s eye. By reframing our thoughts, we can learn to see the positive in every situation and find peace and calm in our busy lives. When we live mindfully, we open ourselves up to new possibilities and a greater sense of wellbeing.
2. Mindfulness Meditation
In addition to improving your focus and helping you think more clearly, mindfulness meditation has an array of health benefits, including lowering stress levels and blood pressure. As a bonus, it can also be easier on your wallet than other forms of mental health treatment. If you’re looking for a quick form of meditation that doesn’t require any special equipment or training, check out Headspace, a guided meditation app with basic audio exercises.
3. Yoga
Besides improving flexibility and balance, yoga encourages you to live with mindfulness — to breathe deeply and focus on what’s happening in your body in the moment. Practicing yoga helps you recognize when you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed, which means you can learn to slow down your response to those feelings.
4. Art Therapy
Creating art can help you express your emotions in a fun and effective way. If you’re looking for a stress-relief strategy, try creating something new every day. Choose any art form — as long as you express yourself freely and creatively.
5. Lifelong Learning
Embracing the mindset of always wanting to learn can be a great boost for mental health. Whether it’s going back to school to get a degree or taking a night class just for fun, learning new things can have a positive impact on our mental health. It helps to keep our minds active and engaged, which can ward off cognitive decline. Learning also provides us with a sense of purpose and can boost our self-confidence. And whether you choose to attend an online program, sign up for a certification or simply take a class, you’re feeding your mind, body and soul.
6. Earthing
Earthing has many mental health benefits, including lowering stress levels and helping to ease insomnia. The idea behind earthing is to absorb a free flow of ions necessary for your well-being. By touching or being in contact with nature, you can tap into these ions and receive many health benefits.
8. Volunteering
Helping others gives you a sense of purpose and belonging, reduces stress and depression, and improves self-esteem. The better you feel about yourself, the more likely you engage in healthy behaviors. And there are plenty of ways to volunteerranging from donating blood to mentoring children after school.
9. Start a Charity
Improve your mental health by helping others by starting your own charity in Tieton, WA. A nonprofit organization also makes it easier to seek grants and government financing. When forming a nonprofit company, you’ll need to draft the bylaws that spell out how the organization will run. This comprises the corporation’s governance, board meeting, voting, and conflict-of-interest policies.
7. Herbal Tea
Herbal teas, like Kava tea and CBD tea, help reduce stress and anxiety. Kava tea is a natural alternative to anti-anxiety medications and has been used for centuries by Pacific Islanders to treat ailments. CBD tea comes from industrial hemp or cannabis flowers. A cup of either should be soothing, so try both and see which one you like.
10. Get a Pet
Pets can help lower your blood pressure, make you feel happier, and reduce stress. If you’re considering getting a pet to improve your mental health, look into whether an animal is right for you. Certain animals require more work than others, and some might not be good with children.
… and you will achieve wellbeing
For many people, mental health gets thrown to the wayside in favor of other things. But by incorporating these simple, easy changes into your life, you’ll feel better and happier and more fulfilled every day.
