8 Tips For Improving Your Mental Health in 2024

Your mental health is just as important as any aspect of your wellbeing. When you’ve broken a bone or come down with a sickness, you’ll go to the doctor. It’s clear there’s a problem, so you take steps to get it rectified right away. Yet so few people take the same care when it comes to their own minds.

Around 20% of the world are currently living with a mental health condition. This could take the form of stress, anxiety, depression, or any other illness that can affect your wellbeing. If you struggle with your mental health, it can impact all areas of your life, from your physical health to your social life. It can impact your career, your life goals, and the family and friends around you.

There are so many things you can do to improve your mental health. Of course, there is not always a quick fix solution to immediately cure you of any issues, but there are lots of small changes you can make to your life that can help you reduce stress, boost your happiness, and improve your overall wellbeing.

So as we move into the new year, why not make 2024 the year of optimum wellness? To help you make these important changes to your life, here are a few top tips for improving your mental health next year.

Be honest with yourself

So many people fail to take note of their own mental health until it becomes an insurmountable problem. They may slave away in a stressful job, working long hours and taking on far too much until their life finally reaches a tipping point and they succumb to burnout.

Wherever your mental health is at right now, it’s important to be honest with yourself about how you are coping. How are your stress levels? Are you feeling any anxiety about anything? Are you getting enough sleep? Are you experiencing fluctuating emotions? Take some time to undergo a thorough introspection and get a sense of your mental health. This will allow you to identify any changes that you need to make and start taking steps to improve your health in 2024.

Talk to someone

The worst thing you can do when struggling with your mental health is to keep it a secret. If you neglect to share how you are feeling, you end up keeping everything bottled up inside you. Your stress and anxiety will grow and grow until finally there’s no more room inside your head and it is all released in an explosion of emotion. Talking to a trusted loved one provides a much-needed release.

Lots of people with mental health struggles are often reluctant to talk about it because they worry that they’ll be burdening someone with their problems or that they might seem weak. But if you have friends and family who love you, there is always someone willing to listen. You don’t have to seek advice from them if you don’t want to. Just the simple act of talking can provide an amazing relief from your troubles.

You may even find that therapy is an attractive option. Although it does come at a higher price than a chat with a friend, a therapist is qualified and experienced in talking to people with mental health challenges.

Get outside

Nature is proven to be incredibly beneficial for one’s mental health. Spending time surrounded by plants and trees can be a hugely calming and relaxing experience, causing your stress levels to plummet and leaving you in a state of utter tranquility and peace. Make a conscious effort to spend less time cooped up indoors and get outside every once in a while. Go for a walk in your local park, or a hike in the nearby countryside. Even just sitting in your own garden soaking up the sounds of the birds and the smells of the flowers can make a huge difference. 

If you live in the middle of a city with limited green space, there are still options. There will be parks and nature trails to be found nearby, you just have to do a little research to find out where they are. You may need to take a train or drive to find some countryside, but when you get there you will find the benefits are enormous.

Get some exercise

Exercise is another thing that has hugely positive effects on mental health. It reduces anxiety and stress as well as releasing dopamine into your brain that makes you feel happier and more energized. So if you are in the middle of a slump or are having a down day, just put your trainers on and go for a run.

The great thing about exercise is that it can take many forms. If running isn’t your thing, you can just find the sport of activity you enjoy the most. This way, you will be more likely to keep it up and experience the benefits for the foreseeable future. Start by going for a brisk walk, bike ride or swim in your local pool. Or sign up for a gym membership and start lifting weights and attending fitness classes. If you prefer a more social activity why not join a sports team? You could start playing football, tennis, or even kickboxing. The choice is yours.

Socialize

You don’t have to talk to your loved ones about your mental health if you’re not ready to yet. Just the mere act of spending time around other people can have huge benefits to your mental wellbeing. Often, struggles like anxiety and depression can cause people to retreat into themselves and spend more time alone. But this will have the opposite effect. Even if it is difficult to summon up the energy, make time to hang out with your friends or visit your family for a cup of tea. You will immediately feel better and you can stay for as long or as little as you feel up to.

Spend time with animals

If you can’t quite bring yourselves to be around people for too long, why not spend time with some furry friends instead? Animals are better than people in many ways as they are always happy to see you and you don’t ever feel obligated to make conversation. You can just be there with them and experience the immense love and warmth that radiates from them.

It’s amazing how being in the company of dogs, cats, or any other animal can immediately make you feel better. It should come as no surprise that animals are often used as a form of therapy or support for people experiencing mental health challenges. Many people have emotional support animals or have a service dog for PTSD and other conditions. All animals are amazing creatures that seem to have an innate awareness of human emotions and know how to make you feel less stressed and sad.

Even if you don’t have the ability to acquire a new pet, there’s nothing stopping you from visiting an animal shelter, pet shop, farm or zoo and spending time with some cute creatures.