When most people attempt to ‘get healthy’, they focus solely on physical attributes. They change their eating habits and adopt a workout routine. All truly wonderful changes to make but what often gets overlooked is one’s mental health. If you want to be truly happy in life, your physical health and your mental health need to both be in top form. If you have a positive state of mind, you’ll be much better able to function in your day to day life. Being positive is particularly important when you are facing challenges. It is hard to stay committed to a healthy, physical lifestyle if you can’t keep your head in an upbeat space.

10 Tips That Might Just Help You Stay Positive and Sunny:

1. Accept yourself for who you are.

This is a big one. Many people struggle every day with self-esteem and self-worth. All day long we are bombarded with images and running commentary telling us how we are “supposed” to look and behave. It can be hard to find value when you are constantly comparing yourself to others. It is important to strive for improvements, but you must always remember that you can only do it for you, not for anyone else. You’re you and that’s pretty fabulous. You’re never going to look like anyone else. You will only ever look like an improved you. There is nothing more valuable in this world than being the best you possible.

2. Eat healthy.

Obvious, right? It is obvious because it is the truth. If you eat nothing but nutritionally void, processed foods, you are doing yourself a disservice. If you eat clean, fresh, whole foods, your body will function better and your brain will too. Processed foods contain chemicals that impact your brain in a negative way. If you find yourself constantly feeling anxious or stressed out, try cutting out caffeine and foods that contain large amounts of sugar and salt.

3. Surround yourself with positive people.

Being around people who are happy and share your goals and ambitions will improve your wellbeing. Make time to visit family and friends. Take time to laugh. Have fun together. These people who value you will make you feel joy and confidence. Being appreciated for who you are is so important. If you have relationships in your life that don’t make you feel this way, it might be time to re-examine whether they are worth keeping. Fill your life with people who fill your cup, not drain it.

4. Appreciate the little things.

We are so busy in our lives that we can forget to notice the little things. Slow down, put away all your electronics. Breathe. Go for a walk. Notice all you see. Take it in. Meditate. Walk a dog. Doing things like this a few times a week will help keep you grounded and mindful of the things that really matter in life.

5. Find a hobby/past-time.

Hobbies build skills which will give you a sense of purpose in life. Life isn’t just about your job and your workouts. Do what makes you happy. When was the last time you tried something new? Perhaps went for a hike, dug out the bike and went for a ride, tried a new recipe, invited friends over and cooked a meal?

6. Give back to others.

One of the most amazing things you can do for your mental health is to do something kind for another person. If you feel like you have lost touch with some of the people you care about, reach out and do something nice for them. Doing something for someone else, just because, and without the expectation of a return, is one of the most blissful things you can experience. The other person doesn’t even need to be someone you know. Are you stopping to grab coffee on your way to work in the morning? Pay for the person behind you. You’ve done something nice that you can feel good about AND you’ve put a positive spin on their day right off the bat. Who knows, maybe they will be inspired to do the same. If there is one thing this world needs, it is more kindness.

7. Talk about your feelings.

It isn’t good to keep your feelings locked inside. You may not want to burden someone else with your troubles but sharing them can help you process and work through them. If you are not interested in talking it out, try writing in a journal. You will have not only expressed the feelings, but you can go back, look what you wrote, for greater insight.

8. Review your life regularly.

Time stops for no one. And the older we get, the faster it seems to fly. If you have a list of goals you’d like to accomplish, don’t forget to stop, check in with yourself and track your progress. Sit down every few months and have an honest look at what you are doing in life. You can track the progress you’ve made and mark areas where you wish to improve. Life coaching fits in really well here 😊

9. Focus on what you CAN control.

Not everything will go according to plan, every time. And that’s okay. Worrying about things you are powerless to change will only stress you out. Look at what you can control. If these tasks still seem too large, break them down into smaller tasks. There will always be something in life you are unable to control. Identify it and let it go.

10. Use failure to promote success.

If you get really deflated after a failure, try to learn from it. You may want to give up but each time we fail, there is a lesson that will help us grow. Learn from these mistakes and do better the next time around. If you allow yourself to wallow in failure, you’ll convince yourself that you can’t do it. But you can.