BY MARILYN C. ARAYATA
A lot of things can destroy your mood and dampen your spirits if you allow them. Don’t.
World Mental Health Day is observed on Oct. 10 every year. Here are simple yet effective tips and reminders to help boost your mood and protect your mental health.
Talk about your concerns. If something troubles you, it’s okay to ask for help. “Sorrow shared is sorrow halved.” You are not alone.
Pray more. Worry less. I fall asleep within a matter of minutes. A friend seemed amused when we talked about it. “You don’t worry at all?” I do worry about many things like all human beings do – but I set a deadline. I call on God’s mercy and confess my helplessness. Iallow Him to take control, otherwise, my worries will consume me and life will be more complicated.
Create small changes that will break the monotony of your daily life. Trya new dish or a different brand. Discover new shops and places. Repaint your room or a dull area in the house. Hang new and bright-colored curtains. Add more plants! Allow natural light and fresh air into your house.
Enjoy the morning sunshine (unless you have an autoimmune disease and your doctor forbids you from basking in the Sun to avoid flare ups). Get free Vitamin D from Sun exposure. Vitamin D deficiency is linked not only to depression, but also to osteoporosis, cancer, and diabetes. Eat Vitamin D-rich food – mackerel, tuna, sardine, eggs, Vitamin D-fortified cereal and oats. Eat food that is proven to make people feel happy – chocolates, bananas, nuts, seeds, and beans.
Live in the now. Forget your failures, heartaches, embarrassing moments, and sins of omission (the things you should have done, but never did). Forget the words and actions that hurt you and make you feel sad. Let go of people who are no longer part of your present reality. When you remember something sad, shift your focus. Think happy thoughts.
