What can I do to help maintain positive mental health?

• Eat well, be well. A lot of what you put into your body can affect how you feel inside and out. The right food and drinks can help keep your mind hydrated, active, energetic and at optimum levels for concentration. Visit out Health Hacks page for more info on how to improve your food.
• Get a good night’s sleep. Most people need at least 7 hours of quality sleep to function properly; if this is causing you problems then it can affect your mood. Don’t worry though, there are a plenty of things you can work on to get better sleep.
• Exercise for at least 30 minutes a day. You don’t have to run 5k every day or anything, just get your heart rate going for 30 mins of activity at least 5 days a week. Walking, dancing, swimming, team sports are only a few ways you can do this. Get more inspiration on our Health Hacks page.
• Talk it out. Chatting about things that bother you can help reduce the problem, as they say ‘a problem halved is a problem solved’. If you’re not comfortable talking to a friend or family member, then it could be good to try a non-judgemental listening service like the Samaritans.
• Cut down on alcohol. Drinking booze when you’re not feeling great can make you feel worse. Alcohol is a depressant so taking a break from it or cutting down on your intake might help improve your mood.
• Stay in touch with friends. Maintaining relationships is a great way to keep a positive mental health. It can be easy to lose touch with people after school or college and this is a natural occurrence a lot of the time but make the effort to meet up and socialise, it’ll be worth it.
• Take time out. Some people find it hard to balance life between school/college/work/socialising but it’s important to remember to take time out for yourself sometimes and do things that you enjoy. Me time can be just as vital as maintaining contact with friends and family!