Talking and interacting with others stimulates your brain. It allows your brain to work faster and think faster. 

A healthy gut leads to a healthy mind and boosts mental wellness. Having a balanced and nutritious diet is a natural defense against stress. Start your day right with a nutritious breakfast and try to maintain balanced meals throughout the day. Include foods like wholegrain cereal, vegetables and fruit.

Lack of sleep can negatively affect your physical and mental well-being and overall quality of life. Having proper sleep not only provides stress relief, but it also makes you more alert and aware. It improves your memory too — sufficient sleep helps your brain to process and retain information long term and solidify memories.

Physical exercise will not only keep you physically strong, but also keeps you mentally alert and reduces stress. When you exercise, you can think better, allowing you to be more efficient and productive.

Try doing yoga, signing up for Zumba, or go for a slow walk in the park as such activities can keep your mind and body healthy. It is better to do moderate exercise more regularly than engage in heavy workouts on an ad hoc basis.

It’s never too late to pick up a new skill and engaging in activities you enjoy can improve your mental well-being.

Learning new skills such as playing the piano, acquiring a new set of computer skills and playing games can stimulate brain and nerve cells, keeping your brain refreshed.

Playing strategic and mind-stretching games not only involves memory work, but also involves decision-making and strategizing.

This helps keep the brain working and preventing mental health issues and illnesses such as dementia. Also, playing in groups will boost greater interaction.

Doing community work or helping a friend or family member allows you to take the focus away from yourself. Helping others makes you feel good and more empowered.

Stress cannot be avoided but you can learn how to better manage it. Setting goals and checking them off when you’ve completed them helps to tackle large-scale tasks one step at a time. Positivity is key — try seeing problems as opportunities that can help to reduce and manage stress.

Laughter can relieve tension and help with stress relief, and aid in stress management. Humor relaxes the mind and makes you feel good, which is good for your mental well-being. Laugh yourself silly and have fun whenever you can!

If you’re having emotional problems, alcohol, cigarettes or drugs is not the solution. They provide only temporary stress relief. Ideally, you can seek help and comfort from family or friends, or you can consider seeking professional help.