If you’re having a week when you’re not feeling great and know you need something to perk you up, you’re in the right place. When things feel really overwhelming, it can be hard to know where to start in terms of improving your mental health and how you feel about yourself. So, we’re here with 5 really simple things that you can do to start moving in the right direction, feeling more like yourself and becoming healthier all round. Often these things are overcomplicated which can make everything even more complicated, but we’re here to simplify everything for you. So, let’s get into it! 

Go On A Walk In The Sunshine

The first thing you should do when you’re not feeling in a great place is to get yourself dressed, head outside and go on a nice walk in the sunshine, perhaps stopping off for a coffee and your favourite pastry on the way. Just getting outside can really help to clear your mind, and even if it’s not super sunny, you will still benefit from the vitamin D which supports bone health, lowers blood pressure, prevents disease and helps to improve your mental health. You can take some time to think about a few other positive things you want to work towards throughout the week, and overall this is a great place to start when it comes to kick starting some healthy habits for the rest of the week. Doing this in the morning is great to clear your mind or you could go in the evening to unwind after a busy day and to help you get a good night’s sleep! 

Do Something Kind For Someone

Whilst you should absolutely focus on yourself and things that make you feel good, sometimes the gift of doing something nice for other people can make you feel wonderful. This doesn’t have to cost much money, if any, as the smallest gestures can mean the most. You could knock on your elderly neighbours' houses and offer to pick up anything they need, maybe you bake something for your best friend, pay for a stranger's drink in a cafe or offer to take your friend’s dog for a walk if you know they have a lot on. No matter how big or small the gesture, doing something kind for someone and seeing how much happiness it brings them could encourage you to be kinder to yourself! 

Cook A Delicious and Nutritious Meal

Next up, you should go to get the ingredients to cook a delicious and nutritious meal. When you eat a well balanced meal, with lots of nutrients, it will have a positive impact on how you think and how you feel. So, either look for some recipe inspiration or get your favourite comfort food recipe out and get cooking. Try to include a few different vegetables, a protein source and a carb, to support all of your essential bodily functions and also to keep you feeling full and satisfied. Most importantly, make something delicious, as feeding your soul is just as important. Our favourite comfort food recipe is a chicken pie with peas, spinach and mushrooms in the creamy sauce. Top with delicious puff pastry and serve with mashed potato and carrots for a well balanced and most importantly, delicious meal. 

Make That Leap Towards Something You Really Want

If there’s something that you have been wanting for a while but you haven’t taken that important first step to get there, this is the perfect time! If you’ve been wanting to learn to drive, maybe it’s time to book that first lesson. Perhaps you’ve been wanting to straighten your smile, so you book a consultation for Invisalign aligners. If you’ve been wanting to get into the gym, then go for a free trial. You don’t have to spend loads of time or money fully committing to anything, but just taking that first step will help you to feel incredible and move towards something positive that you really want or enjoy!

Call A Friend

Sometimes it’s the most simple things that can make the biggest difference to how we feel, especially when it involves our loved ones. So, pick up the phone and call someone, whether it’s a family member, an old friend, your partner or anyone else. Have a catch up, find out how they are, and generally just get anything off your chest with your loved one and let them do the same. You never know, they might need it just as much as you do. From here you could make plans to see each other in person, perhaps a cheap movie night in or you could go for a nice dinner if it’s on budget. Simple yet so effective, pick up the phone, speak to a loved one and we know you’ll feel great afterwards.

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Amy Jones is a freelance health and wellness writer from Manchester UK. She loves researching and writing about health topics, as well as keeping up to date with the latest health news, and eco-friendly brands. Her passion for health and wellness stems from her innate desire to educate people on how to properly take care of their bodies, spot any early signs of illness and take the best preventative methods. When not writing, you can find her taking long walks in the countryside with her dog, listening to groundbreaking podcasts or browsing her nearest bookstore.