Methods to Improve Your Mental Wellbeing in 10 Minutes

Most of us have had moments in our lives where we really weren't doing well. In some cases, this may have even caused us to get sick or say something that we really didn't want to say. Stress and turmoil happen, even to the most mellow people you'll ever meet.

How you cope with stress will make a huge impact on how well you're able to live your life. Most of the time, the best thing you can do is go on vacation or head to therapy to talk about things. But, sadly, we don't always have time to decompress like that.

That being said, there are ways to help yourself keep calm, cool, and collected without having to carve out an hour or more of time to yourself. Here are some of the best ways to keep yourself feeling good during rougher times.

Watch a funny video.

Did you know that just taking a small break to watch a funny video can help you be more productive at work? The reason why this works is because cute videos and funny videos give our brains a break - and our minds a quick escape.

When you're watching a video on YouTube, you're not thinking about tomorrow's deadline or today's blowout. You're just relaxing and laughing. Adding to this effect is the fact that laughter releases endorphins, which are the "feel good" chemicals our body makes to keep us happy.

Go out for a brief walk.

Walking is an easy, low-stress way to get a good dose of exercise and clear your head. Studies show that taking a brisk walk, even if it's a short one, can help bolster the amounts of endorphins your body releases and also can help you lose significant amounts of weight over time.

That being said, anecdotal evidence also shows that going for a walk is an easy way to clear your mind when things are just not making any sense. Go ahead and put on your sneakers; your body and mind will thank you for it.

Write in a gratitude journal.

Studies have shown that being grateful for what you have tends to increase your overall feelings of happiness. Even if you don't have much, you probably have at least one or two things that you can legit say bring you joy or peace of mind.

If you want to harness the full power of gratitude, write down 10 things you're grateful for in a journal every day. After a while, your overall mood will lift.

Consider getting some aromatherapy in your life.

There's a good reason why aromatherapy is so popular; studies show that there is a very significant link between our minds and our bodies. If we are around a lot of smells that remind us of happy things, or even just smells that smell good, we tend to feel better.

A good way to get into boosting your emotional wellbeing through this method is to invest in some aromatherapeutic oils and a diffuser. Or, more commonly, you might want to just look for a home scent kit. As long as you enjoy the smell, you should be good to go.

Block Debbie Downers.

Everyone knows a Negative Nancy or a Debbie Downer that seems to get joy out of pointing out the worst sides of life. These people have a way of just emanating bad vibes, and because of that, they tend to be terrible for morale. They may not even mean to do it, but the fact is that they still do it.

Being around these people isn't good for you. In fact, being around toxic people of any form tends to be terrible for your emotional wellbeing. If you want to make a good change for yourself, block these people out of your life. It takes a couple of minutes at most, but you will thank yourself later.

Clear your mind.

Yogis have the right idea when it comes to boosting mood and emotional health. Taking time to meditate and clear your mind is a great way to stay calm, even when your schedule is crazy. This doesn't have to take an hour of stretching to do, though. Even taking a step outside for five minutes can make a difference.

Studies show that people who meditate regularly have less anxiety, lower blood pressure, and better levels of serotonin. Simply put, this is a practice that everyone can and should do.

Tweak your lifestyle to be healthier.

Life tweaks are easy to accomplish. It doesn't take much to make a change. Instead of drinking soda, drink water. Instead of grabbing Doritos, grab some carrots. Try going to sleep a little bit earlier. Make a point of going out for a stretch.

These swaps are fast and easy to do. But, as quick as they are, they make a huge difference in your overall health and wellbeing.

Things like eating healthier, drinking more water, and going to sleep a little earlier all contribute to an overall happier mood. After all, it's a lot easier to be relaxed if your body is well-rested, well-fed, and hydrated.