It’s that time of the year where emotions are at an all-time high—or low for some people. With Daylight Saving Time ending and winter quickly approaching, people are becoming more anxious and exhausted as the days go by. Additionally, news surrounding COVID-19 is adding to the mental taxation. To combat the season’s blues, here are five ways to keep your mental health afloat.
1. Increase Your Vitamin C intake
An interesting link to bettering one’s mental health is to increase vitamin C intake. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that fights against diseases and helps boost immunity. Given that flu season is upon us, increasing your vitamin C intake will significantly improve your health mentally and physically. Indulging in foods that are high in vitamin C like citrus fruits, berries, and peppers are a good way to help boost your mood and immunity this season. Additionally, taking around 90 milligrams of vitamin C tablets a day is a simple way to ensure you are getting what you need.
2. Listen to Music
Listening to music is always a great mood booster. Listening to anything from hip-hop to country or classical music is a sure way to keep your spirit and mental health afloat. Interestingly, it is reported that listening to sad music can help lift your spirits because you’ll relate the song’s melancholy lyrics to your experiences. Furthermore, you’ll be able to process your emotions better and overcome emotional obstacles faster by listening to sad songs.
An example of a song that provides both feelings of sadness and happiness is PinkPantheress’s “Pain.” The song is about a person having a crush and feeling upset because the relationship is not going the way the person wants it to. Although the song is kind of sad, you’ll be too busy happily singing the catchy “It’s 8 o’clock in the morning” lyric, and dancing to the beat can change the mood.
3. Turn Off the Electronics
One of the best ways to improve your mental health is by turning off electronics. Studies show that the more time we spend on our phones, the worse it is for our mental health. From increased anxiety to insomnia, being on the phone, almost 24/7 is not good for the psyche. When you feel the urge to stay on your phone, turn the phone facedown and find another activity such as exercising or gardening to distract you. In fact, challenge yourself to stay off the phone for at least five hours a day and watch how your mental health improves over time.
4. Write Your Feelings
An underrated activity that everyone is getting into for bettering their mental health is journaling. Journaling every day is a great way to clear out all the traffic in your mind and reflect on your emotions. Writing something as simple as daily affirmations, scribbling nonsensical words, or reflecting on past behaviors will help release pent-up emotions.
5. Sleep
Sleep is a MUST for this season! With the days feeling longer and getting colder, sleep is essential to keeping your mental health steady. It is recommended to get at least seven hours of rest every night, but it doesn’t hurt to get more. If you find yourself having trouble with going to sleep, putting on high vibrational music or aromatherapy are some remedies for a restless night.
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