Written By Paisley Hansen / Reviewed By Ray Spotts

You know how important it is to stay in good physical health. A balanced diet, plenty of exercise and staying on top of your medical and dental appointments are all essential to doing so. However, this isn't the only thing that's important. Your mental health and well-being are crucial to how you feel and operate every day.

Just as with your physical health, taking steps to maintain and nurture your positive mental state should be an essential part of each day. Oftentimes this is pushed to the back burner simply because of a lack of time or due to the guilt of taking time for self-care. Being proactive will ensure this won't happen to you. Here are four ideas to keep in mind for improving your mental health each day. 

1. Get Outside

One of the best things you can do for yourself is to spend time in nature. Not only is time spent outdoors healthy, it's incredibly beneficial to your mental health as well. Try rediscovering favorite pastimes, such as an impromptu game of catch. All you need is a couple of softball gloves and you're good to go.

As a bonus you'll also be moving your body, which is wonderful for balancing hormones and getting your blood flowing. Going for mid-day walks, hitting the hiking trail or simply laying on a blanket watching the clouds roll by are other great ways to get your outside time in.

1. Learn How To Say No

When someone asks you to do something that you might not want to do, are you able to decline? Do you agonize over how to let someone down gently? 

Having a hard time saying no can be a major detriment to mental health. While getting better at it will rarely happen overnight, you can expect it to get easier over time. If you could use some inspiration or guidance on how to go about it, there are plenty of resources available to help. 

1. Listen To Your Body

Your body is an amazing thing. It works incredibly hard for you day in and day out. And sometimes your body speaks louder than others. How well do you listen? Do you know what warning signs to look for? When your mental health is not nourished as it should be, chances are physical symptoms will manifest.

While everyone is different, common signs of decreasing mental health may include weight loss or gain, fluctuations in blood pressure and/or heart rate, thinning hair and many others. Pay attention to how you're feeling. Keeping a journal of physical symptoms can help you pin down any patterns, which can be very helpful when deciding how to treat them. Never hesitate to call your doctor if you're concerned. 

1. Connect With Others

Have you ever noticed how great you feel after a fun night out or lunch with your best friend? There's a reason for that — being around others who impact your life in a positive way is very beneficial for your mental health and well-being. 

With how busy life is, there's no doubt it can be hard to make plans and see them through. However, doing so is incredibly important. Fostering positive relationships with others is a wonderful gift to give yourself, and it's even better when you connect with those you trust and genuinely mesh well with. 

Even if not in person, chatting on the phone has always been a great way to stay in touch. If you find it tough to make or receive phone calls, try scheduling them so there are no excuses for missing out. 

Your mental health should always be a priority. After all, it has a profound impact on your entire life. The key here is fitting things into your routine each day that will nurture it. If you wait until your cup is empty, you might find it's more of a challenge to level yourself out. Taking the time today will benefit you tomorrow. 

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Written By:

Paisley Hansen is a freelance writer and expert in health, fitness, and growing young. When she isn’t writing she can usually be found reading a good book or hitting the gym. She loves hearing from readers so feel free to contact her through Facebook.

Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.

Photo by Timur Repin on Unsplash