Tips from a Young Mental Health Activist
By: Jennah M.
You are probably thinking what is a teenage girl doing writing an article about how to better our mental health. Well, read on and maybe you can find out! Here is my advice to leading a better, healthier life (and trust me I am not giving you false hope like the models on a cover of a big magazine, because these are things I myself do and I can speak from experience).
Spend less time on your phone
Ok I know, everyone says this but trust me once you do it will be one of the biggest wakeup call you will have in life. Your phone will stop you from enjoying the real things in life, the things right in front of you. So get off your phone and go do something interesting (but indoors for now). The time we all spend on our phones is time we could be spending with our families or reading a book or doing something creative. The more time we spend on our phones the more our brain chemistry alters, contributing to symptoms like depression, insomnia, and anxiety.
Use self care apps that you can relate to
Well it’s ironic how I just said to you to not spend a lot of time on your phone, but some apps can help you get away from all the other social media and allow you to slow down. So here’s a list of my top 3 apps I recommend for self care:
1. #SelfCare
I have had this app for a while now and you best believe that it is amazing. It’s very relaxing and allows you to connect with your feelings. It’s a very simple app that has many personalisation features.
2. The Bible
Even if you are not a Christian or are from a different religion, doesn’t mean you can’t read it from time to time to give you advice and guidance on real life problems. Sometimes you can find stories and life lessons in the book that make you think about your own actions.
3. Calm
This app has read me stories at night, and has helped me keep calm during hard times. It gives guided meditation and reads sleep stories that sound magical and like fairy tales.
Social media detox
You may not be having problems on social media, but taking a detox is something you need but you may not know. We all see these standards on social media of how to look, how to act, how to be as a person, but sometimes we just need time to focus on ourselves instead of how others see us. So many people on social media sound different from real life and it makes you feel insecure about who you are. Spending time bettering yourself as a human can really be good for your mental health. You may not know it but as soon as you take that detox you may find being on social media gets boring and feels like you’re wasting your time.
Take time to think about food and your diet
Your diet can affect the way you do daily things and can affect your mental state. Your daily diet should include healthy things like avocados and grapefruit (mmm…). Here is a little list of what your daily diet can consist of.
Apple cider vinegar shot (have this with a glass of water)
Avocado on toast (you can add all types of seeds, and seasoning on top to make it yummy!)
Homemade energy bar (you can use dates and mix them with oats and peanut butter)
Kidney bean salad with brown rice/quinoa and fresh veggies (use lemon to make it taste fresh)
Fruits ( you can share fruits with your family as a snack after dinner)
Sushi (there are so many tutorials on Youtube on how to make sushi!)
Green tea (it helps with digestion)
I really hope that this helped you in improving your mental health and making you a better version of yourself! You can share my tips with your friend and family, it will make it easier and more fun when we do things together.