The numbers are scary:
43% of adults say they feel more anxious than they did the previous year, up from 37% in 2023 and 32% in 2022.
These numbers can be shocking. How are we supposed to combat this? Why are the numbers climbing so quickly?
This is no simple answer and there are many facets playing into it. However, I’ve seen time and time again as a mental health professional, that people’s priorities play at least some role in this problem.
Here are 7 simple ways to prioritize your mental health:
1. Get social
Relationships are needed to feel a sense of belonging and connection. Research has provided consistent and compelling evidence linking a low quantity or quality of social ties with a host of conditions. Make sure you create time in your life for the relationships who are important to you.
2. Exercise
Get moving. Exercise may help with improved thinking, lower anxiety levels, and better sleep. A study encompassing 97 meta-reviews of 1,039 randomized controlled trials involving 128,119 participants shared that “we found [that] doing 150 minutes each week of various types of physical activity — such as brisk walking, lifting weights and yoga — significantly reduces depression, anxiety, and psychological distress, compared to usual care, such as medications,”
3. Prioritize sleep
Sleep is crucial to our executive functioning, memory, and emotion regulation. The bible illustrates the importance of sleep with Elijah. I like to call the story, “a nap and a snack”. In short, Elijah was fleeing from Queen Jezebel and became so depressed that he prayed for death. He fell asleep under a tree and an angel appeared to him, saying, "Get up and eat". Elijah saw a loaf of bread and a jar of water by his head. He ate and drank, and then went back to sleep. The angel returns and urges Elijah to eat again, saying that he needs to be strong for the journey ahead. Elijah eats and drinks again, and feels refreshed. Elijah then walks for 40 days and nights to Mount Horeb. We all need “a nap and a snack” when we are carrying a heavy load. Consider your sleep hygiene and how to have sleep be a priority for your mental health.
4. Relaxing routine
We need rest just as much as we need work. Prioritize ways to have rest in your day through hobbies, prayer, devotions, adoration, etc. These relaxing rituals are important for reducing stress and finding new coping strategies for future challenges.
5. Eating healthy foods
Consider what you put in your body and how to fuel your body well. A healthy diet can improve both your physical health and mental health. We should seek moderation in our food consumption and view food as fuel to support your body.
6. Limit social media (Let us not be a slave to another vice)
I’m not saying social media is inherently wrong, but it HAS saturated our time and energy. Several studies have shown a strong link between social media usage and increased risk of depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges. Reflect on your life… is social media a tool or a vice? Let us practice detachment from social media if it is no longer serves a purpose in your life.
7. Seek professional help
In some cases, the suggestions listed above aren’t enough to address your mental health needs. It is important to reach out to a mental health professional and ask for help. You do not have to face these challenges alone. Counseling, coaching, and medication can be crucial to improving your mental health symptoms.