5 Steps to Change Your Thoughts and Improve Your Well-being
Similar to the well-worn adage of ‘you are what you eat’, you are also what you think—specifically, your thoughts have a direct influence on your mental health. You’ve most likely experienced this throughout your life when you felt stressed and anxious. Negative, unhealthy thoughts—such as ‘I’m not good enough’ or ‘I hate my body’—can cause you to develop both physical and mental health conditions, such as high blood pressure and depression as well as impair your metabolism and immune system.
- Even though it can at times feel like an uphill struggle to change the negative, unhealthy thoughts that you are having, it is possible. To help you achieve and maintain a healthy mental well-being, follow these five steps:
- Reach out and spend time with those close to you, such as friends and family. Even something as simple as meeting for lunch can be beneficial.
- Be active. Regular exercise releases beneficial chemicals in your brain that help to treat anxiety and depression.
- Keep learning about a topic that you are interested in and passionate about. By indulging in a hobby or a passion, you are able to focus on something positive rather than think about unhealthy thoughts.
- Give to others. By being considerate of the needs of others and performing acts of kindness, you can boost your mental well-being.
- Be mindful of your thoughts and feelings. If you start to notice negative thoughts building up, try to locate what triggered them to better address the source of the unease.
UK Adults Still Ranked the Worst Sleepers in New Study
With 38 per cent of UK adults admitting that they do not regularly get enough sleep, the United Kingdom has—again—been ranked as the worst country for sleep in a recent international survey. On average, adults require between six to nine hours of sleep each night, with 7.7 hours being the optimum amount, according to the Royal Society for Public Health. Yet, more than 20 million UK adults are getting less than that.
- This is unfortunate, as a good night’s rest is critical to your day-to-day performance. Regularly not getting enough sleep can cause moodiness and impact basic cognitive skills, such as memory, critical thinking and problem-solving. It can even have serious consequences on your physical and mental health, including contributing to the following conditions:
- Obesity
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Depression
- Anxiety
- A shortened life expectancy
The benefits of a good night’s sleep are numerous—including netting you more pay. A joint study from Williams College and the University of California at San Diego in the United States found that a one-hour increase in average weekly sleep increases wages by 1.5 per cent in the short term and 4.9 per cent in the long run.
- Thankfully, poor sleep is generally a simple problem to address. To help ensure that you get enough sleep each night, follow these five simple steps:
- Establish a regular sleep schedule. This should be something that you can easily maintain, even during the weekend.
- Wind down your activities as you get closer to your bedtime, as your body needs time to shift into sleep mode.
- Avoid taking frequent naps throughout the week. Even though naps may be enjoyable, napping too much or too long can disrupt your sleep schedule.
- Keep electronics away from your bed. Devices such as smartphones and tablets produce ‘blue light’, which stops your brain from producing melatonin, a chemical that makes you feel tired.
- Don’t indulge in nicotine or caffeine close to your bedtime, as the stimulating effects of those substances can take hours to wear off.
If you are still having trouble getting a good night’s rest after following the above guidance, talk to your GP, as he or she can evaluate your symptoms and refer you to a board-certified sleep specialist, if necessary.
This article is intended for informational purposes only and is not intended to be exhaustive, nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as professional advice. Readers should contact a health professional for appropriate advice.