Mental health means different things to different people.
And because the impacts can be invisible, it is often not taken as seriously as physical health.
However, the impacts of mental health are more widespread than you think.
According to NHS England, one in four adults and one in ten children experience mental illness during their lifetime.
That’s why the World Health Organisation aims to make mental health a global priority for all this year by recognising 10th October as World Mental Health Day.
Lots of factors can impact your mental health.
From the ins and outs of your daily routine to external factors like the cost of living crisis.
The latter of which is currently having a sizeable impact on the mental health of UK citizens, as many of us brace for the uncertainty of the next few months.
In times like this, we tend to worry only about the tangible factors of the situation and not how we’re affected mentally.
But, stress and other mental health issues can make matters worse and should be treated the same as any other physical condition.
Here’s why:
The value of your mental health
No matter your age or lifestyle, mental health plays a big role in your life and overall health.
The benefits of improved mental health are broad and include:
- Improved physical health and life expectancy
- Better educational achievement
- Reduced health risk behaviours such as smoking and alcohol misuse
- Reduced risk of mental health problems and suicide
- Improved employment rates and productivity
- Reduced anti-social behaviour and criminality
- And higher levels of social interaction and participation.
So how can you improve your mental health?
Ways to improve your mental health
There are many ways to improve your mental health, particularly against stress and issues that can arise from isolation. The NHS recommends that you:
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Connect with other people
Maintaining good relationships with others can work wonders.
For example, the sense of belonging to a group can improve self-worth and provide emotional support.
Using technology as a crutch has become an easy habit to fall into in recent years, but the importance of connecting with people outside of your sphere cannot be underestimated.
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Be physically active
Similarly, remaining active causes chemical changes in your brain through the release of endorphins.
This can improve your mood and raise your self-esteem.
The nature of exercise also makes it a great way to improve your self-worth by setting and achieving regular goals and targets.
But, it’s not the only way to do this.
You can also receive the same effect through your work or by learning new skills.
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Learning new skills
This can be great for your self-esteem and self-worth by helping you build a sense of purpose in an activity and is another way to connect with others.
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Give to others
Exercising kindness day-to-day can be beneficial to you and the receiver.
The act of giving creates a positive feeling in your body through the sense of reward that comes from gratitude.
Being kind helps forge the right connections essential for prosperous human survival and is the cornerstone of building a healthy community.
Giving back is an essential tenant of mental health. Both in improving your own, and the mental health of those around you.
All of which feed into the spirit of World Mental Health Day.
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Pay attention to the present moment
This boils down to the practice of mindfulness, a familiar term to many.
But what does it mean?
Essentially, mindfulness is paying attention to the present moment, including how you feel in your mind, body, feelings, and the world around you.
At an appropriate time, give it a try.
Sit with yourself and reflect on the world both inside and around you.
How does food taste, what sensations do you feel moving through the world, and what happens if you do something a little differently?
How Rosemary Bookkeeping can help
At Rosemary Bookkeeping, our priority is supporting you.
By outsourcing your bookkeeping to us, you’re letting go of all the stress and worry of managing your finances alone and leaving it in the hands of your financial experts.
We work with you to take the stress out of your bookkeeping so that you can focus on the things that matter to you.
Your local bookkeeper can help with more than the numbers and can give you advice on changes in the financial world and how to manage issues like the cost of living crisis.
Having regular meetings with a bookkeeper also helps you to make informed decisions about your business’s finances.
The economy is changeable, and with recent legislation like MTD, a well-informed bookkeeper can help you to know what is happening with your money.
All this benefits the health of your business and your mind, as you can put the proper plans in place and not spend your day agonising over making the right decisions.
One of the best ways to improve your mental health is to not suffer alone.
Seeking out the support available to you, particularly within your community, will make a massive difference.
Whether this is talking to loved ones, a mental health specialist, or getting the right help to tackle the problems you’re facing.
Contact your nearest Rosemary Bookkeeper for a free quote on our services for the right support for your business.
