HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AND FEEL MORE ENERGISED

Until recently, mental health was a like a stranger to me, I knew it was “something”, but I never paid much attention to it because it never really felt like something I could relate to. However, things change, and so does life… And with time (I wish I knew all this 15 years ago), I realised that a healthy body doesn’t get very far without a healthy mind.

So a couple years ago, after going through several major life changes in a very short time (health, work, relationship, moving to a different country… you name it!), I felt like my entire world was falling apart and I was no longer in control of my body or even my emotions, I lost my balance. 

It’s a very difficult place to be in, especially because it becomes a vicious circle. You find yourself trying to do a 1,001 different tasks, running everywhere, skipping meals, not sleeping because you are too stressed, worried or overthinking everything. Then you’re not exercising because you’re obviously too tired from of all the work you’ve been trying to do and haven’t been able to complete, all the food you haven’t eaten and all the hours you haven’t sleep… That’s when you burn out. You are emotionally and physically exhausted.  

It wasn’t until I started paying attention to what was going on underneath the surface that I was actually able to understand the problem and started taking actions to fix it. -You see, being young gave me a sense of invincibility, and even though it is a great thing to have when you are chasing goals and feel like you are the actual queen of the world, at some point your body will ask you to slow down.

You’d be surprised about how basic the human body is and how very simple changes can transform your life. Being able to stop and take time is vital to recharge both physical and mental energy. Never feel guilty about taking time for yourself, whether it’s a spa day, a night out with friends, learning something new, whatever makes you happy and feeds your soul; it will make a huge difference in your life. 

So what can I do to actually improve my mental health and feel more energised? Let me explain what has worked for me…

Yoga and Meditation - Starting yoga and meditation is probably one of the most important things I’ve done for my health, I had very little expectations, but I could notice the changes immediately. It helps to keep me calm and grounded, to have more clarity and approach life from a very different perspective, but most importantly, it has allowed me to be more fully present, inspired and connected to the deeper world around me.   

Sleep - For me one of the key elements for healthy brain function and emotional wellbeing as well as physical health. If for whatever reason I’m not able to sleep, the next day I’m tired, moody and with zero mental agility, I’m literally a zombie. Sleeping, not only helps you to recharge batteries, but also plays a very important role in your overall health. While we sleep the body heals damaged cells, boosts our immune system, recovers from the day’s activities and recharges the heart and cardiovascular system for the next day.

Eat - This is probably my favourite, but for some reason, during hectic periods, the first thing I forget about. And again, it’s a vicious circle, if I don’t eat well my energy is low, I can’t focus and of course I’m in a very (very) bad mood. I'm very careful about what I eat and I pride myself on having a very healthy diet, that’s why I start the day with a ginger shot to clean and boost my system, and during the day I try to keep my meals as clean as possible (*on weekends some conditions may apply). Something I’ve found especially helpful (and this applies to every day of the week) since I started using it, is RESCUE Plus, a natural solution made of B5 and B12 vitamins which supports mental performance and helps to maintain normal psychological function. I normally keep the spray in my handbag and the dropper at home so I can have it with my drinks (the lemon and elderflower taste is delicious). I love the fact that is completely natural and what it does is basically giving my body what it needs to boost its performance. During those hectic days when it seems like I won’t be able to cope with life, this little bottle comes to my rescue. -RESCUE Plus is available exclusively at Boots.

Move - You don’t have to become a triathlete, just keep the movement going. Whatever works for you; dance, run, walk, swim, cycle, clean the house, run after your kids, it doesn’t matter. Just don’t become a coach potato. 

Get a Hobby - This will keep your mind busy and you’ll have something to look forward to, something that excites you and helps you take your mind away from problems and daily life situations. In my case I love writing (I’m sure you can tell by now), making candles, creating lotions and potions, cooking, DIY stuff at home.

Go offline - In the age we live in, there’s nothing more detoxifying than disconnecting from the online world to live the actual moment; disconnect to reconnect. For us, The Millennials, this can be quite difficult to do as it seems like the phone has been incorporated to our body, but trust me, you’ll never feel more free and peaceful in your life.

I hope you have enjoyed this post and found some useful information on it. I look forward to hear your thoughts.