2017 May | Page 10

LIFE
5 Tips to Improve Your Mental Health
Staying healthy is about more than paying attention to your
physical body—your mental health directly influences how you
think, feel, react and maintain relationships. If you don’t take steps
to promote your mental health, you may find that anxiety,
depression and irritability can take control of your life.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, about 1 in 5
adults experience some form of mental illness in a given year, but
less than half of them seek professional treatment. And, even if
you haven’t been diagnosed with a mental illness, taking steps to
improve your mental well-being can improve your physical health
and help you maintain positive relationships.
Here are five tips you can use to help improve your mental health:
1. Talk with those who care about you. Simply talking to
friends, family members or co-workers can help you
overcome a personal problem and stay connected.
2. Take a break from digital distractions. Although
smartphones and other modern technology make it easy
to stay connected with others, focusing too much on
digital media can make it easy to ignore close
relationships and the world around you.
3. Take care of your body. Your brain is still part of your
physical body, so it’s important to exercise regularly,
maintain a healthy diet and get enough restful sleep.
4. Set realistic goals and focus on taking the first step. Many
projects or errands can seem overwhelming when taken
as a whole. Try planning out steps for large tasks and
concentrate on what you need to do first.
5. Get help when you need it. Although there can be
negative social stigmas about seeking help for mental or
emotional problems, mental health professionals are
trained to help manage stress and mental illnesses with
therapy or medication.
PROVIDED BY
Marshall & Sterling Insurance
800-724-0695
Catherine Kent-Pazin
© 2017 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.