5 things to change in your daily routine to improve your mental health

I get asked a lot about staying positive and maintaining my mental health, and honestly, it takes a lot of work. But I never regret it. 

It comes down to your reaction to things; for instance, I used to get stressed with work and kept going until I burned out, but now I take a break and go for a walk. Before, I used to come home from work tired and exhausted and sit on the couch and stare at my screen; now, I come home and put my phone down and talk to my boyfriend or cook a meal. It's about your reaction to situations and whether you give yourself the boost of endorphins it needs. 

If I were to choose five things to change in my daily routine to improve my mental health:

1. Take breaks throughout your day: instead of "grinding" through the work day, give yourself some mental health breaks -- go for a walk, meet a friend for a quick coffee, stretch, or whatever makes you feel good and get those endorphins released. 
2. Limit your screen time: we all know that staring at our screens isn't good for us, but we do it anyway. I'm not saying get rid of your screen; I suggest limiting your time on it. Don't let it be the first thing you see in the morning or the last thing you see before bed. Set a realistic goal for yourself and stick with it. 
3. Move your body daily: I'm not saying you have to wake up at 5 am and go for a 10k run before work; I'm just suggesting you integrate movement into your daily routine. Instead of driving to that coffee shop down the street, go for a walk. Instead of taking the elevator, take the stairs. Instead of sitting at your desk for 8 hours a day nonstop, take breaks, walk around the office, or take a little stretch. Do movements that leave you feeling good, whether it's going to the gym for a weightlifting session or as simple as going for a walk with a friend. 
4. Do your best to stay present: When talking to a friend, are you often absent-minded and thinking of something else? I tend to have a thousand things going on and think of those thousand things while talking to someone. Once I learned this, I tried my best to stay present. To remain engaged in the conversation and not allow me to get distracted. By doing so, I have built meaningful relationships and learned things I would have missed if I hadn't been paying attention.
5. Nourish your mind and body: When I say nourish your mind and body, I mean give yourself the best quality of things you can. Nourish your mind with a quality podcast from your favourite podcaster, and nourish your body with a balanced meal filled with healthy carbs, fats and protein. Don't allow yourself to get into a negative state and tell yourself you don't deserve the nourishment, that you're too busy or don't have the time. Prioritize yourself.