5 steps to improve your mental health

STEP ONE - COMMUNICATION WITH OTHER PEOPLE.

Good relationships with others are important for a person and help to develop a sense of belonging to a group, provide an opportunity to share positive experiences with others, and feel emotional support. Communicate with friends, family, colleagues, and like-minded people.
Exchange opinions, and support each other - all this helps to feel in good shape and preserve vitality.

STEP TWO - PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.

Regular physical activity is associated with lower levels of depression and anxiety in all age groups, increased self-esteem, and good mood. It does not have to be an intense workout - you can just take a walk in the fresh air with friends or family. During a walk, the level of stress hormone (cortisol) decreases, and as a result, we feel uplifted and get more pleasure from life. You can take a walk one and a half to two hours before bedtime to improve the quality of sleep and feel more relaxed.

STEP THREE - CONTINUE TO LEARN.
Studies show that learning new skills improves mental well-being by boosting self-confidence. 

For example, you can try: cooking something new and healthy, improving your skills (improving presentation skills, photography, fixing a broken bike), or trying new activities (blogging, playing a new sport, learning to draw).

STEP FOUR - HELP OTHERS.

Scientists have found that kindness and generosity can help improve your mental state by creating positive emotions and a sense of importance. 

 Doing good deeds for others or volunteering helps to increase the level of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and endorphin. Also, when we do good deeds, our self-esteem, empathy, and compassion increase, and our mood improves. It lowers blood pressure and cortisol levels.

STEP FIVE - PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR THOUGHTS, EMOTIONS, AND BEHAVIOR.

Awareness helps to better understand your own thoughts and emotions, anxiety or experiences, improve your attitude to life, and approach to problem-solving. Try to listen to your body, desires, and processes of your inner world, because it increases the ability to plan activities, have a positive attitude towards yourself and, as a result, have a high level of empathy and self-acceptance.