Staying healthy

Staying healthy – the basics

Staying healthy isn’t just about eating fruit occasionally or playing sport at the weekend. It’s about doing the right thing by your body every day. There are a few things to think about but once you get into healthy patterns it’s well worth it.

• Keeping active can help you stay physically fit and mentally healthy, lifting your mood, increasing energy, improving sleep and increasing well-being.
• Good food is important in maintaining mental health as well as physical health. In general, eating a nourishing diet can improve your overall sense of well-being.
• A good night’s sleep gives the body a chance to recharge.
• Stress can have a negative effect on your mental and physical health so it’s important to talk to someone if something is troubling you.
• Avoiding alcohol or drugs is good for your health, as they can have negative effects on your mind as well as your body.

Getting enough sleep

Sleep is important to help our bodies recover and recharge. But sometimes sleep patterns can be interrupted, say through sickness or stress. This can make it hard to get to sleep, to sleep well, or to sleep for as long as usual. When it comes down to it, it’s not the length of sleep that matters. It’s how good the sleep is for your body and whether you’re getting ‘deep sleep’.
If you’re not sleeping well and feeling tired in the day there are lots of things you can do to improve the quality of your sleep. When you wake up in the morning, get up, go outside and do something active. Don’t nap during the day and avoid drinks that contain caffeine after about 4:00pm. Try not to go to bed too early and give yourself time to wind down before you go to bed.

Managing stress

Stress is a normal part of daily life. It’s a natural physical and mental response needed to help you cope with emergencies and to perform at your best. But when stress is regular and doesn’t let up, it can damage your physical and mental health. Don’t wait for stress to get so bad that you start feeling depressed or helpless.
Try to work out what’s troubling you and then talk to someone who can help. Talking to a friend or family member is a good way to start. Or you may want to talk to a teacher or school counsellor, especially if you’re worried about exams or schoolwork. A doctor can help with a health concern that is causing you stress.

Avoiding drugs and alcohol

Taking drugs or drinking alcohol may seem like fun and a good way to take your mind off things or spend time with friends. But, sooner or later, drug and alcohol use has negative effects on your mind as well as your body. They can contribute to, or trigger, mental health problems in some young people. And if you have an existing mental health problem and use alcohol or drugs, it can cause more problems than either issue on its own.
http://www.youthbeyondblue.com/factsheets-and-info/fact-sheet-12-staying-healthy/