Often times when we think of having good mental health, we use what we understand of poor mental health as a guide. We believe that our mental health is satisfactory if we are free from negative mental health issues like depression or anxiety. But simply being free from the negative effects of poor mental health is not what our goal should be. There are many more benefits to be had from making mental changes. People who are mentally and emotionally healthy have a love of life and an ability to easily enjoy themselves, laugh, and have fun. People with good mental health tend to have the ability to deal with stress and bounce back from adversity. They also have a sense of meaning and purpose, in both their activities and their relationships. Making mental changes to be a better you may include developing the flexibility to learn new things and adapt to change or a better balance between work and play, rest and activity, etc. Wouldn't you want the ability to build and maintain fulfilling relationships or to improve your self-confidence and heighten your self-esteem?

Making mental changes to be a better you can enable you to participate in life to the fullest extent possible. You can be more productive, participate in meaningful activities, and foster stronger relationships. These positive mental changes can also help you to cope when faced with life's challenges and stresses so that even in the times when your mental and physical limits are stretched, you are better able to handle whatever may come your way.

There are a number of activities that you can try and choices that you can make that can affect your mental state on a daily basis. Most mental changes are simple ones. The effort comes in making a conscious effort to change and in maintaining the motivation to follow through with your mental goals. Here are a few simple suggestions to get you started:

• Get enough rest. To have good mental and emotional health, it is important to take care of your physical health. You must get enough sleep (typically about 8 hours) in order to function optimally.
• Practice good nutrition. The way that you eat affects your energy and mood. The better you eat, the better you can feel. http://www.helpguide.org/life/healthy_eating_diet.htm Limit alcohol and avoid cigarettes and other drugs.
• Exercise can actually ease and eliminate the onset of stress, anxiety, and depression. Even as little as thirty minutes of exercise a day can lift your mood and improve your mental state.
• Sun is not just for plants. Sunlight can actually lift your mood. Get at least 10 to 15 minutes of sunlight per day.
• A great way to rejuvenate your mentality is to do things that appeal to your senses. You can stay calm and energized by appealing to the five senses: sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste. Listen to music that lifts your mood, place flowers where you will see and smell them, massage your hands and feet, or sip a warm drink. You may be surprised as just how much of an impact these small changes will have on your mental health.
• Make leisure time a priority. Many times the reason why we need time to make mental changes to be better is that we have come to neglect the importance of mental stimulation. Reassign importance to enriching your mind in whatever way brings you the most pleasure. Make time for contemplation and appreciation. Meditate, pray, and pay closer attention to the little things in life.