As May is Mental Health Awareness month, this week we wanted to share some of our tips to help improve mental wellbeing. Throughout recent years it has become very clear of the importance mental health has on our daily lives. It can seem disheartening when we hear of the rising statistics of mental health, even more so when we see it affect those we love. So what things can we do to help ourselves feel more balanced? Nature Spending more time in nature, surrounded by a sea of greenery, near the sea, in a forest or in a park can greatly benefit both mental and physical wellbeing. Being outside has been shown to have lots of positive effects - such as improved mood, reduced feelings of stress, improved feelings of connection and self esteem and helping us to be more active. A growing body of scientific research even supports the concept that we have a global resource for health maintenance; the surface of the Earth itself. The Earth possesses a limitless and continuously renewed supply of free and mobile electrons. These electrons can induce multiple physiological changes including better sleep, reduced pain and a shift from sympathetic to parasympathetic tone in the autonomic nervous system. The most simplest way to access this amazing tool is to walk or sit barefoot outside. So simple and yet so effective! Even if you live in the city you can go to a park and do the same thing. Food Knowing which foods we should and shouldn’t be eating can be really confusing, especially when there are so many different theories and ideas for what is actually good for us. However, evidence suggests that what we eat not only affects our physical health but also our mental health. Improving your diet may help to improve mood, give more energy and help you think more clearly. The easiest way to improve your diet is to start simply. Fruits and Vegetables - adding in more fruits and vegetables helps us to gain more nutrients, which helps the brain in many significant ways. Staying hydrated - drinking plenty of hydrating water will help you to think more clearly and detox toxins in the body, helping overall mental health. Gut - numerous studies have shown how the good bacteria in our guts affects our general mood and wellbeing. Eating plenty nutritious whole foods with fibre and fluid will help them to thrive and keep the body in balance. Managing caffeine - caffeine is a stimulant and will quickly increase your energy. It will also give you a quick downfall as well. If you have a sensitive nervous system decreasing or avoiding caffeine altogether can help. The withdrawal from caffeine can be hard, so gently decrease your daily intake and come off slowly to make the process easier. Movement Your mind and body are intimately connected and while the brain is the master control system for your body’s movement, the way you move can also affect the way you think and feel. Regular exercise can have really positive effects, it can improve mood by enhancing the “happy’ chemicals in our brains and can reduce depressive symptoms by producing an anti-anxiety effect on the brain, activating and replenishing GABA, a neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in the body’s response to stress. However it’s not only intensive exercise that has impact. Meditative movement such as yoga and Tai Chi are also incredibly helpful and incorporate breathing techniques that can be applied in daily life. Environment We’ve all heard sayings such as “a messy house is a messy mind” and shrugged it off when we were told to. But could there be more to this statement than first perceived? New research is showing how the space around us affects our mental wellbeing. Clutter in our homes and workspaces can build into overwhelming sensations. All this clutter, physical and mental, can interrupt your flow; both your ability to move and your ability to think. Our home environment is especially important and should be a retreat from the outside world and a place to feel calm and centred. Our favourite tips to make your home space calming are: Aromatherapy - This is one of the simplest ways to create a sanctuary at home - diffusing essential oils into the air can improve sleep, reduce stress, enhance mood and purify the air. To stay balanced we recommend our 100% natural room mists and soy candles. Green plants - most human beings are naturally drawn towards green spaces - it’s in our nature - and plants are the perfect way to bring nature indoors. They are not just visually beautiful but also improve concentration, productivity and clean the air. Tidy the space - decluttering and organising the objects in your home will give you the illusion of more space - allowing you to feel more calm. Self care Setting yourself time in your day for self care is one of the main beliefs we have as a company. All of our products are made with the intention of nourishing the mind, body and soul. We believe that mental wellbeing can be greatly affected by how we show ourselves care and love. Whatever activity nourishes your soul to the little things that spark joy, they all impact our wellbeing. Some of our favourite self care activities are: Taking a walk - somewhere calm and peaceful, either a favourite park, with a friend or in nature. Pampering - with a lovely bath, face masks and our favourite aromatherapy bath salts. Meditating - sitting with ourselves, with a calm presence. Reading - setting ourselves some alone time with a good book and a cup of tea. Creativity - whatever way you express creativity - painting, sewing, writing or crafts. The main thing we promote is balance. Mental wellbeing is individual and everyone has different needs. Whichever tips you resonate with, we encourage you to start with those. See how they unfold and have faith that you're doing your mental wellbeing a world of good.