How to Improve your Mental Health
How to Improve Your Mental Health.
Here are ten proven ways to improve your mental health.
- Pay closer attention to your daily thought habits.
- Direct your thoughts AWAY from visions of a fearful future.
- Direct your thoughts AWAY from memories of bad past events.
- Direct your thought TOWARDS visions of a better future.
- Set positive goals and write detailed plans for their accomplishment.
- Keep away from those people who tend to put you into negative states.
- Expose yourself to the people, books, ideas and environments, that tend to put you into a positive state.
- Look after your health; exercise at least three times per week.
- Improve the QUALITY of your nutrition whist reducing the QUANTITY of food.
- Make an effort to dress-well and look your best.
Let us look at each one in turn:
1. Pay close attention to your daily thoughts.
Your mental health is determined by the quality of your thoughts.
- Bad thoughts create bad feelings and lead to poor mental health.
- Good thoughts create good feelings and lead to excellent mental health.
We are made and unmade by our thoughts.
Most people don't take sufficient control of their thoughts. Instead, they allow their mind to run out of control.
As a result, some people crash.
Remember, that nobody controls your mind, but you.
So, TAKE charge of your mind; pay strict attention to the content of your thoughts.
The fundamental principle of mental health is to take control of the content of your mind and direct it towards visions of a better future.
2. Direct your thoughts AWAY from visions of a fearful future.
Be wary of filling your mind with visions of fearful futures.
The world is full of messages which are PURPOSEFULLY intended to induce fear.
- The media pump-out fear messages, because they sell more copy.
- Politicians pump-out fear messages, because they think they can gain leverage by suggesting only they can save us.
- Terrorists pump-out fear messages because they are terrorists.
The point is, if you do not stand-guard at the doors of your mind, then your mind will drift with the current, and it will be directed by the social environment towards a state of anxiousness and fear.
Your task is to recognise this process and to put strict limits on your fear.
3. Direct your thoughts AWAY from memories of bad past events.
In a similar way, you need to direct your thoughts away from bad memories.
Rehashing past defeats, past losses, past failures and past pain, does more harm than good.
Why? Because each time you replay the memories of the bad-past, you re-experience the original pain.
In addition, by repetition, you deepen the neural pathways in your brain, making it MORE likely you will think about it again tomorrow and experience the same pain for the umpteenth time.
So, you end up running an endless loop, going over the same-old-ground, round and round, getting nowhere, the whole time feeling terrible.
Thinking about "the bad events of the past" redouble the bad feelings and create poor mental health habits.
You need to limit the amount of time you spend thinking about the past and instead, use it to plan for a better future.
4. Direct your thoughts TOWARDS visions of a better future.
Mental well-being is based on the principle of thought control.
You need to "Take back control" of your mind and direct your thoughts towards visions and plans for a better future.
ONLY IF you have a mind full of images depicting "better futures" will you feel optimistic, confident, inspired, happy and enthusiastic.
You are the sovereign of your mind.
The degree of mental health is the degree to which you develop mastery over your mind.
How can you best direct your thoughts towards visions of a better future?
By setting positive goals.
5. Set positive goals and write detailed plans for their accomplishment.
Stop thinking about the painful past, or fearful futures. Instead spend your time planning your comeback.
Ask yourself, what do you really want?
- What do you want to BE?
- WHO do you want to BE?
- What do you want DO?
- Where do you want to GO?
The more you think about ways to make your life better, and the more time you spend planning and implementing those plans, the better you will feel.
Goal setting and making plans for a better future, is the primary tool you have to improve your mental health.
All you need is a pad and a pencil and you can start today.
6. Keep away from those people who tend to put you into negative states.
As you start to make changes in the way you think, feel and act, you may have to deal with people who will be challenged by the changes you are making.
It sounds harsh to say it, but it is probably true, that some people you know, have a negative effect on your emotions. Some people are toxic.
Identify those people who tend to have a toxic effect on your mind and spend less time in their company.
You don't have to make a song-and-dance about it. Just quietly decide to spend less time talking to the people who tend to bring you down.
Instead ...
7. Expose yourself to the people, books, ideas and environments that tend to put you into positive states.
You are affected by your environment. Therefore, it is important that you take conscious control of your environment and shape it to your mental health needs.
PURPOSEFULLY expose yourself to the best environments you can.
- Listen to the best, most inspiring music.
- Look at the best art.
- Surround yourself with the most inspiring people.
- Read the most uplifting books and fill your mind with positive ideas.
Since "you feel whatever you think about", you can help yourself by purposefully filling your mind with positive people and inspirational ideas.
That will give you a healthy mind.
But you also need a healthy body.
8. Look after your health; exercise at least three times per week.
You are a union of mind and body.
- If your body is sick, your mind will suffer.
- If your body is well, your mind will rejoice.
Therefore, to develop better mental-health you need to create and sustain higher levels of physical health.
Exercise at least three times per week.
And look after your diet.
9. Improve the QUALITY of your nutrition whist reducing the QUANTITY of food.
Many people eat too much junk food.
As a consequence, they don't feel well, either mentally or physically.
Make it part of your programme to reduce the quantity of your food, but increase the quality.
The better you feel physically, the better you are likely to feel mentally.
"You are what you eat".
10. Make an effort to dress well and look your best.
Finally, make it your business to "put on a good show".
- Everyone feels better when they dress up nicely.
- So if you want to feel better, dress up nicely.
If you look good on the outside, it will help you to feel good on the inside.
Use the phrase: "Looking good, feeling GREAT"
Definition: Thought control
Thought control is a self-help practice in mental health. You keep constant watch on your own thoughts, block harmful or fearful ones, put clear and hopeful pictures in their place, and repeat this pattern each day until it turns into a firm habit. If you drop any one of these steps, real thought control is not taking place.
Show CG4D Definition
- Constant self-awareness of inner thoughts
- Deliberate blocking of harmful or fearful thoughts
- Active creation of positive, goal-based images
- Daily repetition until the pattern becomes a habit
Article Summary
Master your thoughts, shape your surroundings and care for your body; follow these ten simple habits and you will improve mental health, cut anxiety and build a brighter future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions that frequently get asked about this topic during our training sessions.
What is the quickest way to improve mental health each day?
How can I stop replaying painful memories at night?
Why does writing clear goals boost mood naturally?
How often should I exercise for mind health?
What simple food change helps positive thinking?
How do I deal with friends who dampen my mood?
How can I picture a brighter future without feeling false?
Thought of something that's not been answered? Ask Us Today!
Did You Know: Key Statistics
The 2023 NHS Digital Health Survey shows UK adults who complete at least 150 minutes of weekly exercise are 27% less likely to display symptoms of depression than inactive adults. A 2024 Mental Health Foundation poll found that 71% of UK adults say writing clear weekly goals lifts their mood.About the Author: Chris Farmer
Chris Farmer is the founder of the Corporate Coach Group and has many years' experience in training leaders and managers, in both the public and private sectors, to achieve their organisational goals, especially during tough economic times. He is also well aware of the disciplines and problems associated with running a business.
Over the years, Chris has designed and delivered thousands of training programmes and has coached and motivated many management teams, groups and individuals. His training programmes are both structured and clear, designed to help delegates organise their thinking and, wherever necessary, to improve their techniques and skills.
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Further Reading in Mental Health
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How to Manage Your Mental Well-Being
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Mental Health Awareness for Managers
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How to achieve a work life balance
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