The pandemic has had a serious impact on the mental health of the UK, which is why it is so important to find ways to boost our moods. While, of course, any serious mental health conditions must be dealt with by a professional, there are things that, as an individual, you can do to improve your overall mood.
Thankfully, as summer starts to arrive, more and more people feel their moods lift and are happier in general. Getting out in the sunshine is a great way to get Vitamin D and embrace the warmth of the summer. So, while we wait for the warm weather to come around, here is our list of some health and well-being tips that could help to boost your mood.
Eat A Balanced Diet
Eating a balanced diet is a great way to improve your health and wellbeing and can be effective in boosting your mood. Unfortunately, diet culture is a bit part of our society, but eating well is all about balance. There is no good or bad food, so long as you have a healthy balance of both of them.
Eating a balanced diet means you can still eat your favourite treats, and you should never restrict what you can eat. A lot of the diet culture that exists in our society is all about having to earn certain foods or having to counteract bad food with good food. This is a negative way to view food, and it will only harm your physical and mental health if you continue to live this way.
Eating healthily and eating nutritious foods is not something that comes easy to everyone. If you have been brought up a certain way or simply do not like the taste of fruit and vegetables, you may struggle to get all your vitamins and nutrients into your diet. If this is the case, it could be beneficial for you to invest in some meal replacement shakes as they can provide all your vitamins in one easy shake.
However, it is important to note that these sorts of shakes should only be used as part of a balanced diet, and you shouldn’t be replacing all of your meals with shakes. Shake That Weight could be a good option to go with as they sell a range of shakes. So you can browse and see which ones would work for you.
Get A Quality Night’s Sleep
Another great health and wellbeing tip that could boost your mood is by ensuring that you get a good quality night’s sleep every night. Sleep is such an important part of our life, and if we regularly do not get good quality sleep, it can have damaging effects on our body. When we sleep, our body performs a lot of important functions, such as sorting through our memories of that day.
Without good sleep at night, our body, and particularly our brain, will not be able to function efficiently, which can lead to feelings of distress and agitation. Not getting enough sleep can also make us suffer from physical ailments too, headaches, painful joints, and light sensitivity are all things that can come as a result of lack of sleep.
The amount of sleep we need does vary as we age, but, ultimately, you as an individual will know how much sleep you need to get each night. Getting good quality sleep every night can ensure that we wake up feeling fresh and energised for the day. Struggling to sleep, or struggling to maintain quality sleep, is something that many people go through. If this is the case for you, then thankfully, there are things you can do that could help you fall asleep at night.
One great thing you could do is create a routine. Going to bed and getting up at the same time every day can help adjust your body clock so you will start to feel tired at the same time every night. Additionally, it would be a good idea to make sure your sleeping space is cosy and comfortable, so it is a place you actually want to be at the end of the day.
Exercise Regularly
Exercising regularly is a great way to stay in shape and keep your body healthy. Exercise is good for your physical health, but it also has some great mental health benefits. When we exercise, serotonin is released into our body which is the chemical that makes us feel happy. Exercise can feel daunting if you are new to it, so why not try a few different exercises and see which ones you enjoy the most. Once you have a few that you enjoy doing, you can start creating a regular exercise routine. Creating your own routine gives you more freedom, and it means you can fill the routine full of the exercises you love the most.
There can be a lot of pressure to create an exercise routine, and joining the gym can feel a little nerve-wracking if you have never been before. Going to the gym is a good option to exercise as you have access to a variety of different machines which can help you discover what you like.
However, this is not your only option for exercise. If the gym atmosphere isn’t for you, then why not try exercises at home. There are plenty of tutorials and videos online that you can exercise to, so you don’t have to pay for an expensive membership or workout in an uncomfortable environment. You can even get at-home gym equipment too, so you have everything you need from the comfort of your own home.
Socialise
Human beings are very social creatures, so when we are faced with periods of isolation, we can start to feel unhappy and depressed. The pandemic had this effect on the nation as we were suddenly forced inside and unable to see our friends and family. Thankfully, restrictions have now been lifted, and we can once again socialise with our loved ones. However, for many, socialising is not as easy as just stepping out the door, and they can find it hard to leave the house and meet up with their friends.
While socialising in person is great, it is not your only option, and you should take advantage of the modern technology we have access to. Socialising online can be just as effective as an in person visit, and it is a great option for those who feel socially awkward.
If you are avoiding socialising because you don’t have any friends to meet up with, then you need to look for ways to meet new people. One great way to meet like-minded people is either in-person or online groups. The great thing about meeting people in groups is that you know you have at least one thing in common, so you already have one thing to talk about. This eliminates the first awkward conversation, and it means you can start to build a friendship quickly. Groups and clubs, either online or in-person, are a great way to build a community, which is something that is desperately needed in a post-pandemic world.
