With all the seeming madness in the world, it is more important than ever to maintain a sense of balance. This is especially true if you live in a large city and work a demanding high-pressure job.  The ideal long-term solution would be to simply get out of that situation, but that may not be practical right away. Although some doctors may recommend medications, these can have serious side effects. It is therefore important to develop strategies to protect and improve your mental health naturally.

Here are some tips for improving your mental health from Laws of Positive Lifestyle.

Nothing is as Bad as it Seems

One of the best things you can do for your mental health is to pay less attention to the news. Big media corporations make their money by selling fear and despair. However, mainstream corporate news stories are often exaggerated or biased. In any event, much of it has little impact on your immediate life—so why stress yourself over it? If you want to know what’s going on in the world, check out some of these positive news sites.

Let There Be Light

There is a condition suffered by people living in northern latitudes during the winter. It is known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. This is due to a lack of sunlight and insufficient Vitamin D levels. If this sounds like you, consider light therapy. You may also wish to install some full-spectrum light bulbs in your home. Especially if it doesn’t get much light from outside.

You Are What You Eat

Even 2500 years ago, Hippocrates reportedly understood that the food we put into our stomachs has a major effect on our overall health.  This includes mental health. Author and physician Drew Ramsey has written a great deal on the subject of diet and psychological and emotional well-being. By eliminating refined carbs and sugar, reducing sodium intake, and avoiding saturated fat, it is possible to reduce the risk of depression by up to 80 percent.

The Importance of Staying Active

Glucose is brain fuel, and to utilize it effectively, the body must have oxygen. This means 30 minutes of aerobic exercise, three times a week at a minimum and preferably five. Fortunately, you do not have to take out an expensive gym membership or buy workout equipment. Simply making a few minor changes in your daily routine can help. Walking or cycling instead of driving, or opting for the stairs rather than the elevator.

Find a New Career

Sometimes we can be brought down by feeling stuck in our career. If you find yourself in such circumstances, returning to school for an online degree may be more fulfilling. An accredited online university offers many degrees in various fields, so there’s bound to be one that works for you. Plus, scheduling is flexible which means you’ll be able to fit coursework into your busy lifestyle.

Meet a Community Need

For many people, reaching out to others is therapeutic. One good way of doing this is to identify an unmet need in your community. Take action to address it. The most efficient way to do this is to start your own non-profit organization. While not absolutely necessary, having non-profit status makes it much easier to get funding. Via grants and government agencies — not to mention providing individual donors with a tax write-off.

Pay Attention to How You Feel

The best strategy for maintaining better mental health is to monitor your emotional state. The technique is known to psychotherapists as Emotional Self-Regulation (ESR). It is simply the practice of deliberately seeking better feeling thoughts when confronted by an unwanted situation. 

Nothing by itself will make you instantly happier. But by incorporating practices such as ESR, light therapy, exercise, and better nutrition, you will soon find yourself with a brighter outlook.