#DoOneThing: Top 10 Actions To Boost Your Mental Health

Since 1992, World Mental Health Day has been celebrated on October 10th. In a bid to raise awareness for this all-important cause, we’re encouraging you to #DoOneThing to nurture and protect your mental health, not just on one day a year, but all year round!

Here are 10 simple actions you can take to preserve your mental health, boost your well-being, and give your self-esteem a much-needed lift.

Do One Thing for Fear and Anxiety

Fear and anxiety can both be debilitating and ongoing issues for people struggling with their mental health. One of the most effective things you can do to address anxiety is to adopt a regimen of mindfulness meditation.

If you feel stressed, anxious or fearful about something, try not to avoid those feelings. Instead, face them head on by observing your thoughts, emotions and reactions in a loving and non-judgmental way.

By facing your fear and nurturing your mind with mindful meditation practices, you can begin to gain control of it and loosen its control of your life.
Do One Thing for Depression

Depression can create a mental barrier between yourself and the people and things you love. If you battle with this mental health challenge, one of the best things you can do to help yourself is to develop and maintain a strong social support network however you can.

This network could consist of your closest friends and family members, a religious or cultural group you trust, or even just your social media followers. You could also join a depression support group, online or locally, to ensure that you can stay in touch with people who truly understand what you’re going through.
Do One Thing for Better Workplace Mental Health

Are you struggling with your mental health in your workplace? You can start to address this by balancing your work time with time for fun and relaxation as well.

You might need to work longer hours on occasion but try to claim back this time if possible. Don’t take on too many tasks at once, either; rather give each task you are given your full attention and be honest if you are not coping with your workload.
Do One Thing for Mental Health Through Exercise

Staying active can go a long way in improving your mental health. Regular exercise keeps you fit, boosts your self-esteem, and improves your concentration, quality of sleep, and hormone balance.

Physical activity keeps your brain and body healthy, assisting them to release dopamine and other feel-good hormones. You may also get a hit of mood-boosting vitamin D from being out in the sun but remember to prioritise safe sun exposure and to use a quality sunscreen!
Do One Thing to Support Your Brain

Your brain needs a wide spectrum of nutrients to function optimally, especially during times of stress. You can support your brain and your mental health by adopting a healthy and balanced diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, supplements (if necessary) and plenty of water.

Remember to ensure sufficient omega-3 intake by eating brain-supporting foods like flax seeds, walnuts, olive oil, and fatty fish like salmon, sardines and mackerel in moderation.
Do One Thing to Reach Out and Connect

Catching up with your friends and loved ones face to face is always wonderful, but if you battle with your mental health, sometimes this can seem like a daunting prospect.

Don’t worry – you can still reach out by giving them a call, sending them an email, or chatting to them online. Knowing that you have people around who love and care for you can go a long way to improve your outlook on life.
Do One Thing You Truly Enjoy

Do you have something that you really love to do, or loved doing in the past? Which activities take your mind off your stress and allow you to enjoy a few hours of peace?

Enjoying yourself can improve your mental health significantly.

This means different things for different people; for some, they enjoy learning new things, while others prefer to do things that they are good at. Find something uplifting to do that speaks to you and do it as often as you can.
Do One Thing to Care for Others

Caring for others works both ways. As you care for them, you may soon find that you feel better about life and more uplifted as a result.
Get involved in local charity drives if you can, or simply find a way to do something kind for another person. It will mean the world to both of you.
Do One Thing to Boost Your Self Esteem

You need to nurture your self-esteem to keep it in good condition, especially if you deal with depression, anxiety or other mental health issues.
Boosting your self-esteem could be as simple as updating your Facebook profile picture, changing your hair colour, or simply taking proper care of your body.

Do whatever feels manageable, and remember to do it again whenever you feel that your sense of self-worth could use a lift.
Do One Thing to Give Yourself a Break

You are only human, and all humans need breaks from time to time. A change of scenery or pace can be excellent for your mental health, and the great news is that you don’t have to move overseas to enjoy these effects. You could take a short walk at lunch, go away for a weekend, or book yourself a week-long vacation to explore a new part of the world.

You’ll be glad to know that even a few minutes of break time can be enough to bring your stress levels down.

Many people also advocate for scheduling regular self-care days and pampering themselves however they see fit, and we couldn’t agree more! Self-care and self-love are the keys to nurturing yourself through difficult times and emerging with a healthy mind on the other side.