What lifestyle change improved your mental health

[Bye2024]

What changes did you make to your life to help your mental health? Last year I barely got through it. Got into a slump where I was just existing. This year I'm determined to fight this and flourish.

I really recommend this one:

www.dhanakosa.com/contact

That is very sweet and life affirming.

If I could stop at a couple of biscuits, I’d try it 😁

I love a walk with a podcast so will check these ones out

Make yourself- honestly, it’s worth it!

Yoga
Iron tablets

Painting my nails daily with strengthener- sounds stupid but the pleasure i get out of seeing them long and strong is disproportionately good for the time and cost it takes!

Years and years ago I unfortunately had a complete horrible breakdown... I hardly left the house and at that time I lived alone.

I was advised (nagged) by someone very close to me to "go see the horses" that are in a field not too far from me... within walking distance.
I kept putting it off, as my mindset was at that time "what's the point "?

I eventually went to see said horses.
I only went so as to stop being nagged (encouraged) ....
Honestly? That was the start of my climb back up to some kind of normality, it kick started me coming off antidepressants, it got me attacking my overgrown garden.

So I appreciate not everyone likes horses, but my point is, just get out of wherever it is you live.
Go talk to the trees (obviously out of sight 🫢) or walk to somewhere you previously have not been.
Even if it's ten minutes, next time it could be twenty then thirty minutes.
If you like dogs, offer to walk a neighbours.
It doesn't matter if you don't know them, just do it, and feel that achievement.
I can't promise it'll work for you, but nothing ventured-nothing gained.
Best wishes

100mg of Ashwaghanda per day
Giving up alcohol altogether
At least 1 hour bike ride per day
At least 1 hour bouldering per day
Planning some climbing trips
At least 1 hour in shed welding and grinding shit per day
Doing more photography
Baking/cooking something fresh everyday
Spending time with family
Fixing motorbike
Catching up with friends
Repairing house/DIY/Fixing stuff
Learning not to give a shit about work
Listening to interesting podcasts

Seems to be working so far.

Taking responsibility/ownership of my issues, regular exercise and enough sleep. I struggle with sleep as meno. Need to get back onto sleep hygiene, I've allowed the holidays to bugger it up which is why I'm posting this at stupid o'clock.

Don't be passive about your MH. Own your shit and take back control. Whatever you choose to do, be consistent, persevere and keep going. You have more strength than you realise.

Spend more time chatting to friends and family either in person or on the phone.

Helps me feel connected and loved.

I’m another that gets outside every day for a walk. I also came off a lot of social media. Getting rid of FB and Twitter really improved my anxiety. I now use here, but not excessively, and have an insta which is mostly cats, farms, and work memes. Not being constantly attached to the lives of people I used to know really elevated my MH.

Exercise every other day, I really push myself even when I don't feel like it
A few nights a week of bed reasonable early with a cup of peppermint tea
Gratitude practise

Walk, every day, it’s my therapy
Get off your phone, I allow an hour each day then my phone blocks all apps.
Keep your phone in a different room or in a drawer out of sight.
Prioritise sleep, set up a sleep routine that suits your lifestyle, I rise very early so have a very early bedtime. Warm bath with Epsom salts , I take magnesium supplements before bed, read a real book for at least 10 pages then sleep. Use eye masks and earplugs if necessary.
Eat well, take the time to prepare as much fresh none processed meals as you can. It can be something really simple, I usually have porridge and berry’s for breakfast with a coffee ( only one I have all day) , something with eggs or soup for lunch and then an evening meal.
Doing these things keeps me grounded and better able to cope with everything else in my life.

Thanks for starting this thread OP

I have a dog and he is the best medicine. I have to walk him and I always feel better after a dog walk. He provides company and never minds me crying on him. Always ready with a comforting paw 🐾 and a cuddle.

Also deleted FB

Listening to rock music, podcasts and audio books lifts my mood

Exercise that you enjoy so you stick at it

Swimming, I would love to swim in the sea but live right in the middle of the UK. The cold water is great for my MH.

Just looking into joining a choir! Singing is supposed to lift your mood

Back in the day, before we had such good knowledge of mental health, I had some sort of mental health crisis and no support. I honestly, just had to muddle through. Reading, music and art helped a lot.

Now, alongside this I love to get enough sleep and contain work to work.

Having future plans to look forward to helps but only if they're things you really want to do.

Interesting that the themes seem to be sleep, healthy meals, exercise, outside time.

All the things that we struggle to do when out MH is bad! I have to force myself at times but I have to admit it does help.

I would add to this having a reasonably clean, organised and ordered life. Eg washing and dishes done, house reasonably clean, bills paid and finances reasonably well ordered, calendar up to date etc.

I would agree.

It's frustrating to realise that good mental health is something that needs to be worked at. It's not a given. Staying level takes effort - especially if there are outside influences trying to knock you off balance .

Buying a horse. I had always had horses in my life when younger and they saved me during a trauma and abuse filled childhood. Pressures of my first marriage, working life and career progression stopped me riding and being with horses during my 20-30s.
I came back to horses after a major mental health crisis in my late 30s and they saved me once again.

About 8 years ago started doing the annual 50 book challenge on Goodreads. What a difference that has made to my life! I would have said previously that I didn't have time to read but it's amazing how you find the time when you have a good book on the go.

Also get outside as much as I can. Invest in a cosy jacket. Many problems thought through and solved on a walk in the fresh air.

CBT

Buying a cinema pass so I always somewhere to go and escape into a different world for a couple of hours

Getting a kitten

Arranging to see at least one friend a week.

Walking or running. As soon as I wake up so I can’t put it off. Noticing how much of a difference it makes to the rest of the day (eating better, sleeping better, tackling general life with more resilience). Active noticing of how much better it is helps me do it the next day. It’s my priority so I do it first. The days I don’t are shit.

Also starting to ensure that I have things in my calendar to look forward to.

And trying put my own MH first. Hard when you are feeling low

I took a lot of steps last year which I intend to keep up this year. Walk daily, exercise more, lose weight etc. but most importantly, I learned to 'let it go' with people (friends & family) accepted I just don't like or get on with some people and visa versa. Stop making so much effort then I won't be hurt when this isn't returned. I feel better for it! Still learning & working out who's who but my soul feels better for it

Walking walking walking. Only thing that has ever helped me.

Placemarking to come back later