Just as your physical health is important, so too is your mental well-being. To keep your mind at its best is important to meet your goals in a career, overcome challenges, and rise to your potential. The tips below can help you do all three.

Stretch Your Mental Muscle

Remember to do regular workouts for your brain. There are many ways to get the brain thinking in new ways, including:

• Crossword puzzles
• Playing Scrabble online or in-person
• Logic puzzle books
• Creative hobbies

As well, think about your last physical exercise. While you might have headed into the session with the goal to tone and strengthen your body, or to continue with a weight-loss goal, it had other benefits too.

Physical exercise improves oxygenated blood flow to the brain. That’s another reason to get active!

Choose a physical activity that you genuinely enjoy, and you’re more likely to stick with it. For example, go for a hike, garden, dance your heart out in the living room, or take the dog for a walk.

There are many possibilities, depending on your preferences. Always speak with your doctor before changing your exercise routine to ensure it’s right for you.

Becoming Your Best Self

Life is notorious for its ups and downs. Just as you’ve had massive highs, you’ve likely had deep lows. While you might have used unhealthy coping strategies, now you’re ready to get to the root of the problem during drug rehab. Get your mind thinking about the future again now that you’re taking positive steps in recovery.

Getting to know yourself again takes time and patience. As you regain a love of yourself, your thoughts will start to be more positive than negative, which is an important characteristic of a healthy mind.

Eating Well

Now you can make healthier versions of restaurant favorites, all from your kitchen at home. For example, when you crave a burger and fries, make the fries using an air fryer to get fast food that is guilt-free. Or, try making sweet potato fries instead.

Other great options include:

• Swapping pepperoni pizza for veggie pizza
• Making brown rice (vs. white) to increase your meal’s fiber content
• Replace lasagna noodles with sliced zucchini

Also, if you’re trying to take off a few pounds, consider protein sources other than meat. Beans are full of fiber and there are so many kinds, including pinto, black, and kidney. They are easy to add to salads or steamed veggies.

Try New Things

Another great way to get and maintain a healthy mind is to step outside of your comfort zone. Trying something you’ve never done before can exercise your mind in a new way.

A great way to do so is to learn something new. Maybe you’ve always wanted to speak Spanish, for example. Why not start now?

Or, you might start playing chess with your family or online. If you don’t know how the different pieces move on the board, learn the basics and then enjoy the fun of strategic moves.

If you really want to challenge your brain, a quick way to start doing it is to change hands. Use your non-dominant hand for sports, eating dinner, or cleaning the tub.

Drink More Water for a Healthy Mind

Staying hydrated can help your body and brain. Firstly, water helps to deliver nutrients to the brain. It also takes away toxins.

When you’re well-hydrated, you’ll likely find that you have better focus and concentration than before. Being more alert too, can increase your work productivity and prevent feeling tired all day.

Imagine feeling like your best self again, simply by having more glasses of water in the day! If you’re wondering if you’re dehydrated, look at your urine, and if it is dark or has a strong odor then likely the answer is “yes.”

Getting more water into your day is easy. Simply put a water bottle into your backpack or keep one in your car and refill it as needed. Also, drink a glass of water as soon as you get up in the morning to start the day right.

Healthy Mind, Healthy You

Creating a routine that encourages a healthy body and mind can take time. Be patient with yourself as establishing new habits takes practice.

Using small steps will help you incorporate smarter ways of eating into your household, for example. Improving your mental well-being is never something to forget about or put off as it keeps you from reaching your potential. You can look forward to a stronger sense of self this year!