Your wellbeing is determined by a combination of physical, mental, emotional, and social health. When you are in a state of wellbeing, you feel comfortable, happy, and healthy.

The World Health Organisation connects wellbeing to mental health and describes it as a state in which one can realise their individual potential, work fruitfully and productively while coping with the stress of day-to-day life, and make a contribution to the greater community.

In order to live such a life, sound mental, emotional, and social health is required. However, it can be easy to overlook the role that physical health plays in all other aspects of our wellbeing.

In fact, a healthy lifestyle can help with stress management and adopting a few of these good habits may even be the ticket to coping with depression.

1. Start the day with a freezing cold shower

As much as you might dread even the thought of such an unpleasant wake-up, cold showers have many scientifically proven benefits for physical and mental health. If you feel sluggish or depressed when the day breaks, cold water will send your body into a state of shock and instantly boost wakefulness. It will also cause you to inhale more oxygen, spreading alertness through your body.

Additionally, the temperature helps control your entire nervous system and teaches your body to handle stress better. As a result, you won’t feel as flustered when life gets stressful and you will have a shield against depression. Even if you are not ready to jump into a freezing cold shower first thing, you can start with a warm one and finish it off with an icy rinse to get similar benefits.

2. Walk in the sunshine

In one study of depressed women, an average of 200 minutes of walking per week resulted in improved physical and mental health, as well as physical and social functioning. In this and other studies, regular moderate exercise such as walking has been shown to improve overall health and ease depression. Combine that with the benefits of sun exposure and we may have found something that can help your wellbeing – a daily walk in the sun. Appropriate sun exposure has a slew of health benefits, from boosting your immune system and improving bone health to improving brain function and quality of sleep and lowering blood pressure. All of these factors can contribute to reduced levels of stress and ease depression. If you are feeling overwhelmed or want more information about coping with depression then I recommend you visit this site for more detailed information and tips for improving your wellbeing.

3. Try the Mediterranean diet

Certain foods can have a direct impact on mental health and adopting a healthy diet can be an excellent way to see improvements in physical and emotional wellbeing. If you can get into the habit of following the Mediterranean diet, your health will benefit in many ways. This is because it contains plenty of fruits and vegetables, healthy sources of fat such as fish, nuts, and olive oil, along with the complex carbohydrates found in whole grains and legumes. The omega 3 fatty acids found in salmon, flax seeds, walnuts, and other foods, have an astonishing impact on the brain and can effectively fight depression.

While the refined carbohydrates found in sodas and white bread raise the risk of depression, complex carbohydrates have positive effects on the body and brain. Carbohydrates release serotonin, which makes you feel good. However, refined and simple carbs give a rapid high and result in a crash. These extreme highs and lows have a negative impact on physical and emotional stability. On the other hand, complex carbs release serotonin more slowly and thus provide a more consistent and long-lasting flow of good feelings and energy to the brain

Finally, any healthy diet will include fresh fruits and vegetables, which contain many essential vitamins and minerals. When you are eating healthy, you can also enjoy treats such as dark chocolate and red wine in moderation. If you are concerned about or wanting to improve your mental health and wellbeing you should definitely seek out victorian mental health resources. Action is an important part in overcoming what you may be feeling and a balanced diet may be the first steps to bringing benefit to your body and mind.