We know how important it is to take care of ourselves, especially when it comes to our mental health, but it’s not always easy knowing how to do it. In honour of May being Mental Health Awareness month, we wanted to share some of our most useful tips for looking after your mental health.

Make time for self-care

Life can often be busy so finding time for self-care can be challenging. However, finding just five minutes for self-care is essential for maintaining good mental health.

Not only can self-care benefit our mood, it can also increase our self-confidence and self-esteem - helping to boost our inner-strength and give us that spring in our step. Even just five minutes of self-care a day can make the world of difference. Here are some tips on how to make time for self-care:

• Wake up a little earlier
• Keep your routine simple
• Plan ahead

If you want to find out more about how to make time for self-care, why not head over to our ‘Finding time for self-care’ blog.

Exercise regularly

The phrase ‘you’ll never regret a work-out’ couldn’t be closer to the truth when it comes to our mental health.

When we exercise, feel-good hormones such as serotonin and endorphins increase in our brain. These are our natural chemicals that make us feel happy - so it’s no wonder there's a direct link between feeling good and feeling happy.

Besides from the physical benefits of regular exercise, attending the gym, an exercise class or even going on a long walk with a friend encourages us to get out and socialise offering the opportunity to talk to other people.

Socialise with your friends and family

Family and friends can help you deal with the stresses of life. Having a supportive social network can make us feel cared about by offering a listening ear and a support system. Talking to people who we feel we can trust can help us offload our worries; they can offer different perspectives on our worries and concerns.

Socialising doesn’t always have to be face-to-face, although face-to-face is the best way to get out and about. However, if you don't have the energy, a phone call or even a quick text can help you stay connected and give you the opportunity to share your thoughts and feelings with those who care about you most.

Make sleeping a priority

Sleep and mental health are closely connected. Whilst anxiety can cause our thoughts to race making it harder to sleep, depression can lead to oversleeping and sleeping too much.

Here are some tips on how you can improve your sleep:

• Create a regular, relaxing bedtime routine
• Create a restful environment
• Exercise regularly
• Avoid caffeine or alcohol before bed

Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet

There is a strong link between what nutrition and mental health. Food can have a lasting effect on our mental health, therefore in order to stay healthy, we need a well-balanced mix of nutrients.

Good food isn’t just good for our physical health, but it’s essential to our mental health too.

Food that is good for our mental and physical health include:

• Fruit and vegetables
• Nuts and seeds
• Fish
• Plenty of water

Most importantly, if you are finding it hard to look after or improve on your mental health, we advise that you talk about your feelings with someone that you trust. That could be a friend, family member or a health care professional. You should never suffer with mental health a