Looking after yourself

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Staying healthy means looking after yourself physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. By giving a little attention to these areas each day you can help yourself to stay well and strong and to feel good about who you are.

Our mental health can be affected by all kinds of things but if we take care of ourselves in a balanced way we will be able to cope better during the difficult times. When we feel down mentally we can still do things to make ourselves feel better. By focusing on what we can do rather than what we can’t do we help ourselves to stay strong.

Ways you can build up and maintain your mental health include:

Eat well -	‘Good food is brain food’ – eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, cut down on coffee and sugar, and drink lots of water. Good food is good fuel for our mind and body. mindbodylife.com.au/Nutrition/index.cfm
Do regular exercise –	As little as 15 minutes a day keeps your whole body working and feeling better. Go for a walk, ride a bike, have a swim, play your favourite sport or try some yoga. Most of all, enjoy what you do. mindbodylife.com.au/PhysicalActivity/index.cfm
Get enough sleep –	It’s when we rest that our body repairs and renews itself. If you can, aim to go to bed around the same time each evening. If you have trouble sleeping find ways to reduce your stress and calm your mind. www.healthinsite.gov.au/topics/Sleeping_Well
Make time each day to relax –	Regularly give yourself ‘time out’ from over-working and worrying, whether it’s going for a walk, doing some yoga, reading a good book or having a cup of tea. You deserve it.
Do things that make you feel good –	No matter what age you are it’s important to ‘play’ and have fun – whether it’s learning a new hobby or doing things with people you like. Catch up with a friend, or check out your local library or newspaper for activities, courses or groups you can join. www.lifebeinitnt.org
Talk through any problems instead of letting them build up –	Our problems don’t just go away by themselves and it helps to find someone you can talk to help you work things out. Sometimes this can be a friend, other times we benefit from the more skilled and objective help of a therapist or counsellor Resources
Be aware of how smoking, alcohol and drugs affect your health –	It’s never too late to turn unhealthy habits into healthy ones, and there is lots of information and support available to help you link to Resources
Ask questions: reach out and research–	Take responsibility for your wellness. Research information on different aspects of health and how stress can affect illness. Discover new ways of taking care of yourself. The internet is a great place to start, or visit your local library, newsagency or bookstore. See also Resources and links page.