A holistic approach to mental health
When it comes to mental illness recovery and achieving mental wellbeing, holistic approaches can be incredibly helpful. Holistic approaches involve considering the whole person—mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally—rather than just looking at mental health in isolation. Taking a holistic approach means looking closely at other factors like sleep, diet, exercise, stress levels, nature exposure, and establishing routines that work for you.
Lets explore a few of those key aspects that impact our mental wellbeing…
First up: sleep!
Your sleep is an important factor to consider when it comes to improving your overall wellbeing. Sleep helps reduce feelings of anxiety and depression while also helping with focus and concentration during the day. Aiming for 7-8 hours of quality sleep each night is a great place to start. You can work on improving your sleep quality by avoiding caffeine after midday (easier said than done, I know!), and saying goodbye to working from bed, as well as jumping off your phone (or other electronic devices) at least one hour before you plan to go to sleep.
Next: let’s talk about food!
It’s also important to consider your diet when looking at holistic approaches to mental health recovery and wellbeing. The truth is that 90-95% of serotonin is made in the gut, therefore what we eat is extremely important. Eating nutritious foods that are rich in vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, and protein can help to reduce inflammation in the body and improve cognitive functioning. I like to think of food as fuel, not something that we can use to change or punish our bodies with; so try to fuel your body well 80% of the time, and eat for the soul the rest of the time.
Third on the list: exercise!
In addition to eating well, regular exercise is another key factor for improving mental health. Exercise releases endorphins which help boost happiness levels, while also helping to regulate stress hormones. It’s best to find an activity that you actually enjoy so that it becomes something you look forward to, rather than a chore!
More stress = more problems
Reducing overall stress levels is essential for achieving good mental health. This is something we logically understand, but it can be tricky to actually implement or achieve. Stress can be caused by many things in life, so it’s important to take a step back and identify what contributes to your stress, and find ways to manage it. Some stress can be good for you, like the kind that you feel when you’re excited; this sort of stress is short-term, and inspires and motivates you (and even helps focus your energy and enhance performance). But high stress over an extended period of time can do some serious harm to your mental and physical health - ever heard of adrenal fatigue?
Getting outside actually makes a difference!
Ever heard the saying “touch grass”? While it might sound silly, being in nature can actually help with mental wellbeing. Spending time outdoors has been found to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, improve focus, and even boost immune function. If you’re find it hard to get some outdoor time, a clever idea is to bring the outdoors in! You can do this by adding plants and greenery to your indoor space, and voila, you’re able to reconnect with the natural world without even leaving your couch! Nature can be a much-needed respite from the hustle and bustle of daily life, so it’s important to make time for some nature and sunshine everyday.
Last but not least, routine matters.
Establishing routines that work for you is another important way to look after your mental health holistically. Routines help create structure so you’re more likely to stick to healthier habits while also reducing stress levels and improving productivity during the day. Try to start with incorporating small changes over time until you curate a routine that works for you.
By looking at sleep, diet, exercise, stress levels, nature exposure, and creating routines that work for you on a whole rather than in isolation, you can start to make positive changes and create a healthier relationship with your mental health. This holistic approach to mental health recovery and wellbeing is about looking at you as a whole person—mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally—and taking small steps each day towards improving overall wellbeing.