Mental health is as important as physical health, if not more. Therefore, deserves the same amount of attention. About one in 5 adults in the United States have a mental illness each year, and depression accounts for 400 million lost work days. If you get a cut on your hand, do you shrug it off and say, "Maybe it's all in my head?" Instead, you'll find a bandage and tend to get injured. The same should be the case for mental health. Rather than putting it aside until a significant problem occurs, it is essential to implement preventative measures that improve your mental health daily. Here are some tips on how to improve mental health.

Our lives are busy and full of a stress day in and day out. If you've ever had times of extreme anxiety, you know how it affects not only your physical health and your mental health as well. Finding ways to calm and relax can help prevent stress from taking over your life.

Why good mental health is important

Good mental health is essential in your everyday life because it includes how you think, feel, and interact with others. It can also determine how you handle these difficult situations. Conversely, when you ignore your mind, things can get out of hand, causing problems in all aspects of your life.

If you don't have an outlet for ongoing physical and emotional stress, many conditions can result, which are:

• Anxiety
• depression
• mood disorders
• eating disorders
• behavioral problems
• Take drugs

Finding the healthy ways to keep your spirits up and stay positive can significantly impact your overall health.

Five habits that help improve your mental health.

Although you may feel helpless in fighting the dangers of everyday stress, there are ways you can cope and stay as healthy as possible.

Here are the five to get you started.

Get enough sleep

Sleep is also essential because it allows the body to rest and reset your mind. Unfortunately, sleep also can affect mood. If you don't let yourself get enough rest at night, it is easy to become irritable, and the physical health may deteriorate along with your mental health.

Eat healthily and exercise

Eating right is essential for several reasons, but did you know it can affect you mentally? Eating healthy foods full of vital nutrients increases your overall health and reduces anxiety and stress. Along with healthy eating, exercise can also improve your overall mood and fight anxiety and depression by releasing the feel-good hormones like serotonin and dopamine.

Find contact with others

Social interaction is a massive part of being human. Allows you to connect with the people of all types on many different levels. Forming relationships with others, whether they are family or friends, can help you combat the stressors that creep up on you daily. You can even stretch outside your regular circle and get involved in the community or volunteer to help lift your mood.

Relaxation techniques

Over time, stress can build up in your body and wreak havoc on your mind. One of the best ways to combat this is to train your brain to relax actively. This reduces stress levels, lowers blood pressure, and reduces muscle tension.

There are many different relaxation techniques that our doctors may recommend, including:

• progressive relaxation
• Indicative pictures
• biofeedback
• self-hypnosis
• deep breathing

Another great way to relax is meditation. Of course, meditation requires practice, but it is a powerful tool in facing challenging times in your life.

Practice gratitude and stay positive

Remember that you have things to be grateful for in your life that are just as important as eating healthy and exercising. Gratitude is a great way to get on a positive mindset when life puts you down. Take some of time each day to think about the positives in your life, and write them down so you can refer. Positive outlook on a life, even in your darkest moments, can help your mental health.