Top tips to improve your mental wellbeing

We all need good mental health and wellbeing – it’s essential to living happy and healthy lives. Here are 6 areas of life where simple changes can make a big difference. Why not start today?

What is good mental health?

Looking after your mental health is not something we should just do if we are struggling, or feeling low, anxious or stressed. It’s actually something we should think about all the time and really invest in, just like with our physical health.

Having good mental health can help us sleep better, feel better, enable us to the things we want to do, and help us have more positive relationships with those around us. We do not need to wait until we’re struggling.

Looking after our mental health is not only good for us now, it can also help us deal with and manage difficult times in the future. Over time, it may also reduce our risk of physical health problems.

There are lots of things we can do to look after our mental health and wellbeing every day – make a start with these 6 top tips.

1. Reframe unhelpful thoughts

The way we think, feel and behave are linked. Sometimes we develop patterns of thoughts or behaviours that are unhelpful so recognising them, and taking steps to think about things differently, can improve your mental health and wellbeing.
How to reframe unhelpful thoughts

Check out our short video to get some practical tips on how you can challenge your thoughts and start to break unhelpful cycles.

2. Be in the present

If we take time to be aware of ourselves and be in the present moment, noticing our own thoughts and feelings, and the world around us, we can gain a better perspective. Sometimes this is known as being more mindful.

Be mindful and meditate

Mindfulness and meditation help you to be in the present. Try our mindful breathing video. It can help you feel more calm.

3. Get good sleep

Good-quality sleep makes a big difference to how we feel mentally and physically, so it’s important to get enough.

Top sleep tips

Get simple tips for improving how you sleep with our video.

4. Connect with others

Spending quality time with friends or family, talking to someone about how we are feeling, or finding ways to help other people can all help stop you from feeling lonely and improve your mental health and wellbeing.

Make time to connect

Social contact is good for your mental health – even if you do not feel like engaging with other people when you are low or anxious. This video shows ways you can build more social connection into your life.

5. Live a healthy life

Being active, enjoying the outdoors and having a healthy, balanced diet all impact how we feel. Also, binning bad habits like smoking, and cutting down on alcohol and caffeine can have a positive effect on our mood.

Healthy living tips

For tips on how to live healthily, watch our video.

6. Do something for yourself

From enjoying your favourite hobby, learning something new or simply taking time to relax, it’s important to do things that make you happy.

Try a new hobby or learn a new skill

Setting goals and learning new skills can be a great way to meet people, build your self-esteem and feel a sense of achievement.