The past couple of years have undoubtedly had an effect on all of us, with many of us feeling the weight on our psychological wellbeing.
In 2022 it’s time to prioritise your mental health, just like you would your physical health.
Below Lysn psychologist, Nancy Sokarno details how you can better care for your mental health in 2022.
Prioritise your happiness
Most of the time your happiness is determined by how you allocate your attention, so place an emphasis on doing things that make you happy.
Deciding to prioritise usually allows us to eliminate other options, which can therefore place more attention on those things that have more meaning for us.
And remember, happiness should always be about the journey, not the destination.
Practice gratitude
Expressing gratitude can do wonders for our souls, especially if you make it a daily habit.
Saying thanks to the universe of even to a complete stranger makes you feel connected and aware of the abundance in your life. Consider keeping a gratitude journal where you write down the things that you’re grateful for as a constant reminder that actually enhances your positive outlook.
By focussing on all the positive aspects of life, you’re more likely to put less emphasis on anything that’s getting you down (at least for a while).
Practice mindfulness activities
Mindfulness allows us to practice being ‘present’ in our lives and can help us celebrate moment-to-moment experiences.
This goes back to being able to appreciate the smaller things, rather than always feeling like you need to seek out the bigger things.
Feeling grateful for the little things brings a lot of satisfaction and sometimes we need to take some time to be mindful to actually do that.
So, whether it’s meditation, yoga or breathing exercises, mindfulness can work wonders!
Keep up with the exercise
We’ve heard it all before, but exercise is one of the most important things you can do for a balanced mental wellbeing.
Put simply, exercise releases endorphins which naturally improves your mood and those feel-good hormones can work wonders!
Even if it’s just a walk each day, getting out there and moving your body is always a better option.
Use humour
Humour can help us get through tough times or allow us to see the funny side of life.
Sometimes we cannot solve a problem immediately or feel bouts of stress coming on from outside pressures.
At times like this, seeing the funny side of things can help to take the edge off. Laughter also produces endorphins (the brain’s ‘feel good’ chemicals), so turn to a comedian, your favourite humous TV show or chatting to a friend who makes you smile!
Better sleep hygiene
In my opinion, sleep is one of the most underrated things you can do for your health (and mental health).
Ensuring you get a great night sleep is paramount for everyone as your mental health can suffer from prolonged sleepless nights or insomnia.
That’s where a great sleep hygiene can come in.
Sleep hygiene is the term used to describe healthy sleep habits or behaviours you can practice that will help to improve your sleep, like ensuring you are sleeping in a tidy room, that your linen is clean and avoiding stimulants before bed (like phones and TV).
Talk to someone
A lot of the time, voicing your feelings and concerns about life can help you to feel not alone. Turn to friends and family for emotional support whenever you need it or if you don’t feel comfortable talking to those close to you, consider the help of an expert.
Thanks to services like Lysn, you now only need a computer or tablet with internet access and a web camera to be able to book one-on-one confidential appointments with a fully qualified clinical or general psychologist.
You can book in a time whenever and wherever you like and do the session from the comfort of your own home.
No more waiting in line at a doctor’s office or feeling uncomfortable sitting in a waiting room. Mental health help is available with the click of a button and can arm you with coping mechanisms to get through all the ups and downs of life.
Nancy Sokarno is a psychologist at Lysn. Lysn is a digital mental health company with world class wellbeing technology which helps people find their best-fit professional psychologist whilst being able to access online tools to improve their mental health.
