If you aren’t quite feeling yourself lately, the best thing to do is book an appointment with your GP and seek professional advice. This is easier said than done, and it may take some time before you are ready to take this step yet. Even though I do suggest speaking to a GP right away, if you are not feeling up to it, there are a few things you can try to make you feel better.
Sleep
Getting a good night’s sleep is very important, and the amount of sleep you get is also important. The amount of sleep you are recommended to get is also dependent on your age. Whether we get too much sleep or too little, we can not feel right in ourselves. We can feel ourselves being snappy with loved ones, over reacting and not being as level headed as usual. To make sure you are getting the correct amount of sleep, people have a look at the list below –
| teens | 12-17 year olds | 8-10 hours |
| Young Adult | 18-25 years old | 7-9 hours |
| Adult | 26-64 years old | 7-9 hours |
| Older Adult | 65 or more years old | 7-8 hours |
Healthy Diet
Having a healthy diet can change the way we feel, if we eat a healthy balanced diet, then we have the fuel and energy to get on with our days. When we don’t eat right, we sometimes don’t feel right. But don’t try to completely change your diet overnight, make small changes in your diet, have a salad with your meal, cut out the takeaways and do some home cooking
Routine.
Research suggests that having a good routine can be very beneficial to your mental health. Try planning out your days / weeks so you have an idea of what to expect each week. This will give you the opportunity to plan difficult situations. Also, try creating a weekly menu for what you will be eating each week, this will help with both your diet and your routine, it can also help with taking away the stress of figuring out what to cook after a long day’s work.
Screen time.
Try limiting the amount of hours you spend on your phone and watching television, have a break from the virtual world and spend some time doing things you enjoy, go for a walk, meet up with friends and so on.
Sobriety.
If you aren’t feeling the best, the use of drugs and alcohol can only enhance this, try cutting out the drugs and alcohol for a while and give your body and mind a rest.
Speak out
Make time to connect with friends and family and speak about problems you may be facing, remember that you may be feeling down but speaking with people that care about you and who you care about can be really beneficial.
Remember that it’s ok to not be ok, and if you are not feeling like your normal self then make sure you seek the appropriate help.
What are you going to try this week to benefit your mental health?
Sourced–How Much Sleep Do We Really Need? | Sleep Foundation