It was tough to start this current decade where personal life and work are usually mashed and in a hurry together in a fast-paced world. This triggers individual stress responses, degrades our consciousness and slows things down. However, it is good to have a positive mental outlook and good perspectives in life that will surely help us to be healthy both body and mind. These five tips will help you boost your mental health this 2020.

1. Exercise positivism
Looking at the positive side of life is good for one’s health. Optimists have a better immune system and have a greater chance to live longer. Bear in mind that optimism does not imply rejecting challenges and trials of life. It only means that when things go wrong, a person views it as temporary or a chance to learn and grow. A meta-analysis of current studies said that one of the most helpful ways to boost one’s optimism is the “Best Possible Self” technique. It is based on activities that ask a person to picture oneself in a world where all the aspirations of one’s life have been accomplished.

2. Do volunteers
Studies have demonstrated that being altruistic activates the brain’s reward centers. The happy enzymes of our bodies flood our system, generating a kind of “helper’s high.” It also has physical benefits like reduced stress, less risk of cognitive impairment, and even prolonged life. It doesn’t matter how much time a person offers, just a simple act of giving has been shown to boost one’s health.

3. Be appreciative
Not only can counting our blessings help prevent us from anxiety and depression, but it can also help a person to be optimistic. According to experts, keeping a journal to write down the positive experience a person had all day, regardless of how small it is, is one of the most effective ways to express appreciation. Also, remembering and appreciating the kindness received from others will give a sense of gratitude. That sense of gratitude will boost happiness and better mental health in one’s life.

4. Strengthen your social connections
According to Harvard psychiatrist Robert Waldinger, the happiest are those people who are more socially associated with family, friends, and community. Their physical health is better, and they live longer than the less connected people. Research from the Harvard Study of Adult Development has proven this for they tracked 724 Boston men for over 75 years and then started following more than 2,000 of their children and spouses. This research has shown how good relationships help people become happier and healthier. “And you don’t have to be in a committed relationship or have scores of pals to get this benefit. Instead, it’s the quality of the relationship that matters,” said Waldinger.

5. Discover your purpose
Experts say that having a sense of purpose leads significantly to good health, and longer, merrier life. Psychologist Martin Seligman of the University of Pennsylvania, a co-founder of the field of positive psychology, claims that a sense of purpose arises from being part of something larger than ourselves. He refers to the roots of culture, family, and society as ways to make our lives meaning greater. If a person’s goal is to only achieve the best for himself, that person’s life will be too stressful and lonely, an outcome that he is set to fail. On the other hand, if a person exists for something bigger, the thought of it takes off some of the stress and pressure.