People who are doing exceptionally well in life have quite a few things figured out. First of all, they usually take care of their physical health. They exercise regularly, eat well and get enough sleep. Secondly, they pay attention to the quality of their mental health. The fact is that the two are usually intertwined, and the more we pay attention to our physical and mental health, the better we feel. Here are some things you can do to boost your mental health and improve your quality of life in general.

Get Physical

One of our main enemies, an archenemy to some, is stress. When we experience it, our brain responds by producing hormones that instruct the body to prepare for a threat. High stress levels can seriously affect both mental and physical health. A highly effective way of dealing with stress is through exercise.

Other than bringing relief to our tense muscles, exercise also causes our bodies to release endorphin. The neurotransmitters inhibit the body’s stress response and it that way make us calm down and improve our mood. There are numerous activities to get your heart pumping. Some of them include yoga, dancing, walking and whatever sport you may enjoy. Regular exercise is of utmost importance, so when you feel that you want to skip a day or two, think twice, because the effects can only be felt in the long run.

Eat, Sleep And Meditate

Eating well and having a proper diet can also help reduce our stress levels. Too much caffeine, for example, will make it very hard for us to cope with anxiety. Also, when having a meal, try to not rush it and don’t eat too much. It will only worsen your condition. Eat foods like bananas, avocados, fatty fish, carrots, yogurt, nuts, etc.

Sleeping is a way for us to reset the stress accumulated throughout the day. If you don’t get enough sleep, your brain doesn’t have the time it needs to properly unwind. Our bodies also need rest, it is a way for our muscles to loosen tension. Sleeping for 6-8 hours a day will do wonders for problems with anxiety.

Meditation can do wonders for your mental health in general. It is about not doing anything else other that just being in the moment. What you need to do is focus on the present moment and think about your breathing. Make yourself comfortable and pay attention to you thought, which you should let pass through your mind freely. Do this for 30 minutes each day, taking notes about what you see and think about and, when anxiety kicks in, just refocus on your breathing. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this by yourself, you can visit a mental health retreat and learn from the professionals.

Stay Positive

Negativity leads to stress, no question about it. But, for many of us, it is really hard to think good about ourselves, which is essential if we want to be mentally stable. When you doubt and think of yourself in a negative way, try asking yourself these question: Do I deserve this?; Would I say the same thing to someone else? If you are thinking: I can’t do anything right!, try rephrasing that sentence into: OK, sometimes I fail, but other times I am very good. If you focus on your strengths, you will see how powerful and positive you can be, and you will start working on those qualities until you no longer think irrationally that you are the worst person in the world.

These are just some things you can do to affect the way your feel and reduce stress, which will ultimately result in a better mental health condition. Try hard every day, because you don’t deserve to be put down by your own way of life. Act immediately and witness the change for the better.