Mindful Matters

October 2, 2024

Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Mental and physical health are connected to each other. In fact, some of the things you should do to help improve or keep your body healthy also helps with your mental health: 

• Get active. Just 30 minutes of walking every day can boost your mood and improve your health. And you don’t have to do all 30 minutes at one time. Small amounts of activity add up.
• Eat healthily and drink water. Well balanced meals are good for your body — but they also build-up your energy and focus. Watch out for caffeine and alcohol, though. For many people, cutting back on the amount of caffeine (like in tea, coffee and many sodas) and alcohol you drink helps improve your mood and overall well-being. 
• Get your Zzzz’s. Stick to a bedtime routine to make sure you’re getting enough sleep. Shut off computers and cellphones at bedtime, too. The blue light from these devices can make it harder to fall asleep. 

There are other things you should do to keep your mind healthy: 

• Relax. In today’s busy world, it can be hard to make time for just chilling out. But there are apps that can help you learn to meditate, do breathing exercises to calm down and more. Add low-stress hobbies to your daily routine, too — such as reading, listening to music, or whatever else makes you happy or feel at peace.
• Just say no. There are some things that must get done and others that can wait — or just not be done at all. Set goals and priorities. Learn to say “no” to new tasks or activities if you start to feel like you’re taking on too much. At the end of each day, take some time to think about and appreciate what you have done — even if it wasn’t everything on your to-do list. 
• Be grateful. Remind yourself every day of the things for which you are thankful. Be specific. Write them down or replay them in your mind.
• Stay positive. It’s easy to let negative thoughts creep in your mind. Just don’t let them completely take over. Learn how to question things that make you sad or angry and put them into small batches that you can tackle when the time is right.
• Keep in touch. Reach out to friends or family members who can provide emotional support and useful help.

If you are having trouble keeping your mind healthy, ask for help. Healthy Blue covers many behavioral health services. Get help if any of these things have caused you trouble or have lasted two weeks or more:

• Sleeping issues.
• Changes in appetite or unplanned weight loss or gain.
• Getting out of bed because of your mood.
• Concentrating or focusing.
• Loss of interest in things you usually enjoy.
• Doing your usual tasks and activities.
• Feeling irritable, frustrated or restless.

Helpful Resources: 

If you or someone you know is having a mental health crisis, contact –

•  National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI)*
  • Phone -- 1-800-950-NAMI (6264)
  • Text --  HelpLine to 62640
  • Email -- helpline@nami.org
• South Carolina Department of Mental Health’s Mobile Crisis Team
  • Phone -- 1-833-364-2274 [toll-free, 24/7]
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
  • Phone – 988

_{*NAMI is an independent organization that offers health information you may find helpful.}