Posted by Louise Pentland on 5th Nov 2021
How to Stay Mentally Healthy: Louise Pentland's Top 10 Tips
Louise Pentland is an author of five bestselling books, a vlogger with over 2.4 million subscribers, a podcaster and a public speaker, so it stands to reason that she knows a thing or two about looking after her own mental health.
In this article, Louise shares her top tips for staying mentally healthy.
1. Make lists
When it feels like you’ve just got too much on your plate and you don’t know where to start, try getting everything out of your head and onto paper. Not only will you be able to keep track of all the tasks you have, but you’ll also get the satisfaction and sense of achievement when you get something ticked off.
This works well for tasks at work, life admin, or even the spring cleaning!
If you don’t want to commit to pen and paper, or you’re out and about and don’t have access to one, then why not jot a list down in the notes section of your phone?
Having a list to work from helps your mind to declutter plus it’s a great way of improving your mental health.
Louise says: “I love a list (I’m actually writing one now haha) because they mean I don’t have to hold on to everything in my brain all the time!”
2. Enjoy some me-time
Life shouldn’t be just work, work, work, you should be enjoying yourself too! Try to do something that you enjoy every day. This could be as simple as spending 10 minutes sitting down with a cuppa in the afternoon, reading a chapter of your book or soaking in a warm bath before bed. Whatever you fancy!
Me-time makes an excellent addition to your bedtime routine, helping you wind down before you hit the hay ( https://www.bensonsforbeds.co.uk/sleep-hub/stressed-the-tools-to-help-you-sleep-4999af/).
Louise says: “Do something small every day that is just for you. Those little regular treats keep me going until a big special occasion.”
3. Exercise regularly
Regular exercise has huge benefits for both our physical and mental health. Exercising during the day can help you to feel more energetic, sleep better and feel more positive about yourself and your life. [1]
Different types of exercise work for different people. Some people love high intensity workouts whereas others love putting their trainers on for a jog. Try to find exercise that you enjoy and it won’t even feel like a chore.
Even if you find it difficult to motivate yourself to get going, you’ll feel great once it’s done. After all, you never regret doing a workout.
Louise says: “I’ll be honest, I’m not at all a fitness person but I do feel a LOT better afterwards.”
4. Connect with friends and family
Loneliness can have a negative impact on your mental health and there has even been research to suggest that being lonely is associated with an increased risk of mental health issues including depression, anxiety and increased stress. It may even affect your sleeping. [2]
You’ve heard the saying a problem shared is a problem halved, right? While this may not be mathematically accurate, just seeing or speaking to a friendly face each stay can be a mood booster.
If you live with somebody, try to make time to sit down and have a proper conversation with them. You can end up like ships in the night if you’re not careful.
If you live on your own, don’t become isolated. With more people working at home now, it can sometimes feel like you never get out. Make time to catch up with friends and family.
If you struggle to make friends and you’re feeling lonely, you could look into meet-up groups in your local area. Try a book club, knitting group or take up a class. You may even want to pop into a coworking space a couple of times a week for the social aspect.
Louise says: “Even if it’s just a five-minute FaceTime, chatting to a friendly face is very uplifting. I don’t think I’d cope without this one!”
5. Make your bed
Spending a couple of minutes making your bed each morning can help you to feel a bit more together. A made bed instantly makes your bedroom look tidy and this can be comforting to come home to.
Clean sheets day is also a huge mood booster. There’s no better feeling than slipping into a freshly made bed! We’ve got some top tips for taking care of your bedding ( https://www.bensonsforbeds.co.uk/sleep-hub/how-to-take-care-of-your-bedding-sleep-hub/)
so you can get that fresh bed feeling more often.
Louise says: “The only thing I guarantee I’ll tidy every day is the bed. It makes a big difference to the whole room and helps you to feel on top of things.”
6. Have an early night
Sleep is important to both our mental and physical health. When you sleep, your body repairs and recovers from the day and your brain processes information. Some studies suggest that poor sleep can lead to mental health problems like anxiety and depression. [3]
Feeling tired in the daytime can make it difficult to concentrate on work and can make little setbacks seem more stressful.
Most adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep each night [4] so make sure you get to bed at a time which means you can meet this. Getting into a good routine where you go to bed at the same time and wake up at the same time may also help you get better quality sleep.
Getting a great night’s sleep can help you feel refreshed and ready to tackle the day ahead, no matter what it throws at you.
Louise says: “Having enough sleep makes a huge difference. Try going to bed half an hour earlier for a week and see how good you feel!”
7. Don’t compare yourself to someone else
It’s easy to look at someone else’s life and assume that they have things that you don’t. Whether it’s a great partner, a lovely family, a big house or a fantastic career, we’re all guilty of being envious at times.
Having our smartphones and social media channels to hand 24/7 means it’s even easier to have a look at other people’s lives, leaving you feeling negative about your own.
Try to check yourself whenever you feel yourself comparing and think of all the things that are great about your own life.
Louise says: “Social media can make us feel as if everyone is living their dream life and then we feel rubbish if we are not. Remember that those little squares are just someone’s highlights and not the whole story. You’re doing fine.”
8. Spend time outdoors
Getting out and about can do wonders for your mood. Parks, woodlands, rivers, beaches, canals, wherever you find it, natural can have a positive impact on our mental health.
It could be just the feeling of taking a break, the act of physical exercise, or appreciating the world around us. Whatever it is, it makes us feel good.
Get those trainers on and head out for a walk in the woods. Spend time noticing things – can you hear birdsong? Can you smell flowers? How does the bark feel on that tree? Research shows that people who have a deeper connection with nature are generally happier in their lives. [5]
Louise says: “I recently met a woman who told me that trees “cleanse your energy”. I’m not sure if I believe in that sort of thing but after a few big walks through greenery, I did feel a lot lighter so it’s worth a shot!”
9. A warm bath
A bath is such a simple act of self-care but it can really make a difference. Give yourself a few extra minutes to really relax and have a good old pamper. Put on some relaxing music, light a couple of your favourite scented candles and add some bubble bath or bath bombs.
Lie back and feel the stresses of the day floating away – ahhh.
Louise says: “Bubbles! Not the fizzy drink kind (although I do love those too) but the bath kind. Now we’re coming up to colder nights, it’s definitely a good time to have a deep soak if you can.”
10.Take a day off
When things start to get on top of you, try to add a day to your schedule for a total chill out. On this day, leave your laptop closed, put your phone on silent and don’t even think about picking up a duster!
Sometimes we can just be feeling totally exhausted both mentally and physically and so a day where you can just switch off and completely reset is a great chance to refresh yourself. Don’t feel guilty about taking a day off, you’ll be much more “on it” when you’re back.
Louise says: “This is my ultimate tip for staying mentally strong. When everything feels too much, schedule a day to do less. Duvet, yummy snacks, phone your friends, just stop the world and get off.”
[1] https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-living/the-mental-health-benefits-of-exercise.htm
[2] https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/loneliness/about-loneliness/
[3] https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/sleep-report
[4] https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-requirements
[5] https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/nature/nature-research
