17
LIVING
Getting vital
vitamins - like
5-HTP, which can
support mental
well-being and
contribute to
mood regulation
and healthier
sleep patterns
- can have a
huge boost
because they've never found their
sport, or have been out of the game
due to injury - just getting started
can feel like a struggle. However,
even the smallest steps can make
the biggest difference mentally. Try
getting started with a walk to the
shops or a YouTube work-out in your
living room: every movement helps!"
Get some rest
Sleep is a key part of feeling happy.
Sleep shouldn't be treated as a
'nice-to-have': it's integral for our
mental wellbeing. During sleep,
your brain processes information,
consolidates memories, and regulates
emotions, which is why when you're
sleep deprived, you're more prone
to feeling irritable, anxious, or
overwhelmed. However, we all know
that when you're struggling to get
to sleep, worrying about the sleep
you're missing out on often leads to
more sleeplessness: a vicious (and
tiring!) cycle.
To help you fall - and stay -
asleep, set and stick to a nightly
routine: limit screen-time as you
wind-down for the day, try calming
activities like reading a book or
listening to soothing music, and
aim to be in bed for the same time
each evening.
Registered nutritionist, and
Founder and CEO of Nourished,
Melissa Snover also suggests that our
diets play a vital role in finding our
flow with sleep; so much so, she's
created The Sleep Tight Stack to
help people get all the nutrients they
need in one bite. She says, "We often
see that sleep struggles are linked to
nutritional deficiencies as our bodies
rely on specific vitamins and minerals
to orchestrate a restful slumber.
Melatonin, the sleep hormone, is
given a boost by things like Tart
Cherry, making falling asleep easier.
Ashwagandha, on the other hand, is
well known for improving the quality
of sleep, making it more likely that
you'll feel well-rested the next day.
When we don't get enough of these
vitamins, or other key nutrients
like B and C vitamins and zinc, it
disrupts the sleep processes, leading
to difficulty falling asleep, staying
asleep, or getting good quality
sleep. If you equip your body with
the building blocks it needs to wind
down and drift off, a peaceful night is
far more likely to be on the horizon."
Eat better, feel better
Building on this, Snover comments
that the nutrients we get can have
a huge impact on how we feel too,
"Nutrition is a fantastic way to
support mental health and wellbeing.
Looking after yourself physically is
a key pillar in supporting our wider
happiness, whether that's through
our diet or additional nutrients and
vitamins. Studies have shown that a
balanced diet can improve feelings
of depression or anxiety, so ensuring
that we give ourselves nutrient rich
foods is a brilliant first step to a
happier life.
"Getting vital vitamins - like
5-HTP, which can support mental
well-being and contribute to mood
regulation and healthier sleep
patterns; and beta glucan, which
supports mental wellbeing as it
helps to improve mood - can have a
huge boost."
Connect with others
Last but not least, Njie suggests that
interacting with others can be a great
way to feel happier, commenting:
"Humans are inherently social
creatures, so connecting with others
fosters a sense of belonging and
support. Reports suggest that people
in communities with higher levels of
social cohesion have lower rates of
mental health problems than those in
neighbourhoods with lower cohesion,
irrespective of other factors like
wealth. If you're feeling down, reach
out to someone: try visiting a family
member or texting a friend. You
could also reach out to a listening
service if you'd rather speak to
someone privately about how you're
feeling. After all, a problem shared
can feel like a problem halved."
Living Well Consortium
represents a membership of over
40 Voluntary, Community, Faith
and Social Enterprise (VCFSE)
sector to improve access to Mental
Health & Wellbeing Services across
Birmingham and Solihull and wider
parts of the Midlands . And is the
trading subsidiary of Living Well UK,
part of the Living Well Group.
www.livingwellconsortium.com