People face lots of issues in their personal life that are entwined with work pressure that can cause stress and might bring one’s health down. In spite of that, having a positive view in life is a good way to start this new decade. It will surely help our body to be healthy. These five tips will help you improve your mental health.

1. Be optimistic.
Setting our eyes on the bright side of life is good for one’s health. Positive people have a healthier body and have a higher chance to live longer. Just remember that being positive doesn’t mean ignoring bad happenings. It is about not dwelling on those things for a long time, instead, a positive person will view challenges and trials of life as temporary or a chance to learn and grow. Based on a meta-analysis of existing studies, one of the most helpful ways to boost one’s optimism is the “Best Possible Self” technique. It is based on activities that ask you to picture yourself in a world where all the aspirations of your life have been accomplished.

2. Do volunteers
Research has confirmed how being mindful of others activates the brain reward centers of a human body. The happy enzymes of our bodies flood our system, generating a kind of “helper’s high.” It also benefits physical well-being like reduced stress, less risk of cognitive impairment, and even prolonged life. It’s not important how much time a person can offer; just a simple act of giving has been shown to boost one’s health.

3. Be thankful
Counting our blessings not only saves us from anxiety and depression but it can also help a person to be a positive individual. Experts claim that one of the most important ways of expressing appreciation is to have a journal. Writing down the positive experiences a person had all day, whether they are significant or not, is a good way to practice gratitude. Moreover, remembering and appreciating the kindness received from others will give a sense of gratitude that will lead to happiness and better mental health.

4. Build up your social connections
A Harvard psychiatrist named Robert Waldinger said that the merriest are those people who are more socially in touch with family, friends, and community. They are physically better, and they live longer than the less connected people. A study 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. It has shown how good relationships help people become happier and healthier.

5. Know your purpose
Experts say that a sense of purpose helps to attain good health and prolonged life. According to the University of Pennsylvania’s co-founder of the field of positive psychology, a sense of purpose comes from something bigger than ourselves. He speaks about family, culture, and society as ways to make our life meaningful. A person who only focuses on his best interest will have a stressful and deserted life and said person is set to fail. Whereas, if a person exists for something bigger, the thought of it takes off some of the stress and pressure.