by Katarzyna Radzka

Created on: November 05, 2010

Mental health is integral to healthy living and the ability to function correctly. The health of your mind will influence the health of your body and vice versa – that’s more reason to ensure that you take care of both your mental and physical health. Here are some ways to help you maintain your mental health.

*Get some exercise every single day no matter what. Even if you can only find fifteen minutes that’s better than nothing. Try to fit in at least four sessions of forty-five minutes and you’re going to stay mentally healthy for longer. Exercise isn’t just medicine for the body but also for the brain.

*Enjoy the fresh air whenever you can –our brain needs oxygen and if you spend most of your day locked inside an office than you should take whatever chance you can to get outside and breathe in some fresh air. Take a quick stroll at lunchtime or after work. Standing at the bus stop doesn’t count though.

*Read widely to expand your knowledge and continue filling your mind with new information. Read fiction, non fiction, newspaper articles, poetry, or whatever you can get your hands on – reading will keep your mind active and help you maintain mental health plus you’ll have lots of things to talk about in every situation.

*Do crosswords and other puzzles to challenge your brain. Your mind needs to be kept awake and cryptic crosswords or sudoku can be very useful in keeping your brain healthy and prevent it from going rusty as you get older. Get together with friends and play games like Scrabble or cards.

*Spend time with family and friends making conversation. Talking is important when it comes to maintaining mental health. Small talk, deep conversation, debates any type of conversations are good for the brain. Make an effort to talk to people you don’t know, especially when you’re traveling. Don’t be afraid to be the first to start a conversation.

*Keep a balanced diet that contains lots of vegetables and oily fish. Diet is important when it comes to both mental and physical health. Salmon, cod and tuna are rich in essential fatty acids that are beneficial for brain function. The healthier your diet is the healthier your brain will be.

Maintaining mental health throughout your life is important and easy. Stay active, eat nutritiously, be social, grow your knowledge and challenge your brain and you’ll stay mentally healthy for a long time to come.

Learn more about this author, Katarzyna Radzka.
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