Getting back into our routines after the holidays can bring stress and anxiety, negatively impacting our mental health. The topic of mental health for men is still stigmatized within our society. As a result, men are less likely to seek help or treatment compared to women. Use the beginning of the New Year as your opportunity to start fresh and make simple changes to improve your mental health today. Here’s some starter tips!
Maintain healthy relationships
- Studies have shown that people who are more socially engaged are generally happier.
- Foster positive relationships with friends, family and coworkers.
- If you have any toxic relationships, try your best to slowly detach from them as they contribute to negative mental health.
Practice mindfulness, or meditation
- Use a guide to mindfulness meditation and schedule sessions at a certain point in the day where you need relaxation.
- Mindfulness can give more insight into our emotions, boost attention and concentration, and improve relationships.
- Listen to short, guided meditations to help you relax. The Adia app has free Relaxation and Positivity meditations you can follow.
Exercise
- Exercise can improve mental health by reducing anxiety, depression, and negative mood. Also, it improves your self-esteem and cognitive function.
- Build a workout schedule for yourself. If you haven’t found a form of exercise that you’re passionate about, try new ones! This could be crossfit, rock climbing, weights, or even training for a marathon.
Be mindful of media consumption
- You don’t need to cut off all social media or networking apps completely. However, do consume consciously and know when you need to pause.
- Ultimately, do recognize when social media is affecting your emotions or mental state — this is when you need a break.
Get extra help
- Be mindful of how you feel day-to-day. If you feel down consistently, reach out. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
- Reach out to a trusted friend or family member who can support you.
- Find a counselor, psychiatrist, psychologist that can help you.
- If you experience situational anxiety, talk to your GP or a qualified expert. There are various ways your healthcare provider can help, including therapy or medication such as propranolol.
If your New Year’s resolution hasn’t included mental health, add this in! Mental health for men is just as important as physical health. Where the mind goes, the body follows. So, use the above tips as a starting point towards emotional health and resilience in 2020!
Join Parla for free today to access more educational content like this, hormone tests and free quizzes, and our community of fertility health experts
