What do you do to maintain or improve your mental health?

Isn’t that the question. Never know what will hit you from day to day. Although you have routines to minimize big shocks. You still have to find things to ease. Quiet areas. Supportive folks with large ears and small mouths. Things to take away idle hands. Outlets for anxious feelings I find art projects when I can afford the items.

I volunteer with a local organization that promotes the local annual rodeo, but also does events year-round to raise funds for local scholarships.

Meditation

see therapist and talk about what you need help with and also talk to your family

Stay in contact with friends

I try to get outside as much as possible. I also check in with my providers several times a week. To keep them informed on how I am doing. This allows them to make adjustments for me

i and my wife raise guide dogs for the blind. Have been for 15 years. We get the 8 or 9 week old puppies from the company in New York, and raise them for 16 to 18 months, training them, walking them, attending classes every week or two throuhout their time with us. It has been very rewarding, and we have our 10th dog now.

I paint, thats my primary goto, I design electronic musical instruments(midi) and when I'm at my best volunteer at thr food bank.

I have continuously helped people in need in my communities I have been in. I also took up bicycle riding, to enjoy riding with some people and getting other into bicycling or riding by myself to enjoy nature, the sites and history that a lot of people do not slow down and realize are around them. I rode in multiple fund raiser for our warriors doing 100 mile rides before I finally retire from the work force in 2021. Now I travel by a touring bicycle through out the country for multiple days to a couple weeks on many wonderful trails around the states, taking my time meeting people and enjoying life, which cost very little to travel. I have meta lot of people that take care of you along the way and have been making new friends. I take life one day at a time to enjoy it, as you never no when the last day will come.

To maintain or improve mental health is an important step to a long and fulfilling life in my opinion. I do this by working out weekly and maintaining muscle mass and keeping off the fat. Calisthenics is my go to for this and I always feel better afterwards. Stretching is another huge factor in staying healthy for me. I recently started incorporating yoga moves to my routine and I noticed a large increase of relief on muscle, joints, tendons, etc. Knowing that I am taking care of my body keeps my mental health at ease.

When there are days at a time when I cannot find time to workout my brain starts stressing out. Its like a bottle of soda shook up and then someone comes along and unscrews the cap to let out all the steam.

Another way to help maintain my mental health is going out into nature whenever possible, and taking in all the beauty around. I enjoy life exploring the big outdoors and I feel like my mind is at ease seeing new sites. There is always something if you look hard enough in your area. One other outdoor activity that puts my mind at ease and helps me to be grateful for life is scuba diving. Being under water and not being able to listen to other people or hear some type of electronic device noise is satisfying.

I also enjoy spending time with friends from work. These days everyone stays to themselves and stays inside. I try to invite people over for game nights, and a good dinner. These gatherings build better relationships and helps my mind, by telling me I put on a good evening for guests and friends. This harbors long lasting relationships people won't forget as easily and brings satisfaction to friendships.