4 Surprising Ways to Boost Your Mental Health

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As awareness surrounding mental health grows, more people are practicing self-care on a daily basis. However, you don't need to stick to the usual methods of stress-relief and mood enhancers. When it comes to how you feel, there is more than one way to enhance your mental health. For inspiration, take a look at these innovative and surprising ways to boost your mental health today:

1. Be silly and spontaneous
We tend to lose our sense of silliness as we get older, which means we let go of a genuine source of joy. Sure, being silly can feel…. well, silly, at first but you'll soon get over any self-consciousness you feel. If you want to know how to let loose and feel silly, you can learn from kids. They're more than willing to embrace their own silliness and have great fun doing so. By releasing your inner child and being silly once in a while, you can let go of the stresses and strains of adult life and experience the simple joys once again.

2. Spend time with friends
When you're an adult, arranging to spend time with friends sometimes happens months in advance. With busy lives and packed schedules, it can be hard to factor in quality time together. However, being sociable is one of the most important ways to boost your mental health, so find friends you can get together with more regularly. Whether you workout at the gym with a partner, treat yourselves to a little ghost bubba, or simply sit on the deck and catch up, you'll feel better for spending time with people you care about. And when you can't spend time together face-to-face, be sure to keep in contact via video calls and group messages.

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3. Clean your room
It may not sound like much fun but cleaning your room can have a transformative effect on your mood. By restricting yourself to one room, you set yourself a defined and achievable target, which prevents you from feeling overwhelmed. The act of cleaning itself can be cathartic, while a tidy bedroom can reduce stress levels and help you to sleep better.

4. Be around animals
If you already have a pet, you'll know just how therapeutic they can be. However, if your circumstances don't allow you to get a pet right now, you can spend time with animals by volunteering or making friends with someone who has a pet. Studies show that spending time with animals can reduce anxiety and brighten your mood, so it's a great way to boost your mental health. 

Make Self-Care Part of Your Routine
When you're living a busy lifestyle, it can be tricky to factor self-care into your day-to-day routine. However, taking care of yourself is essential if you want to enhance your physical and emotional well-being. By prioritizing self-care and making it a non-negotiable part of your day, you can make sure that you're doing everything you can to protect your mental health and enhance your quality of life.