12 Tips to Improve Your Mental and Physical Health Living in LA
Sian Victoria © - Santa Monica beach
Los Angeles Guide: How to Improve Mental Health & Wellbeing
Okay. Let’s be totally honest here for a minute. Living in a huge sun-soaked coastal city in America like LA looks amazing on an Instagram feed, but the daily reality can easily grind you down. With the traffic on the highways, the astronomical housing prices and the constant need to always be successful, it is so easy for your wellbeing to take a huge hit.
If you are emotionally and physically swamped right now by the sheer pace of Southern California life, you definitely won’t be the only one feeling this way. So, consider this post as a guide to keeping your sanity intact while getting to grips with life in this beautiful yet very chaotic city. In this post I’ll be recommending some actionable habits that you can start implementing to improve your mental health.
1. Swap the gridlock for greenery
Just sitting still on the Interstate 405 or staring at brake lights on the Hollywood Freeway is enough to kill any mood before the workday has even begun. You need to get out of the concrete gridlock and into some real green space to lower your stress levels.
Fortunately, some brilliant natural spots are hiding in plain sight in Los Angeles. You could trek the rugged trails of Griffith Park on a quiet Saturday morning, or take in the peaceful views across Elysian Park, or explore the stunning botanical collections over at the Huntington Library in San Marino. Simply, spending an hour or two in the trees and fresh air is like a total reset for a brain that's been overworked.
2. Switch up your relationship with the digital world
When your surroundings feel permanently switched on, it is very hard to switch off. When you’re working late on work emails and scrolling through everyone’s hyper-curated lives, your mind never gets a true moment of quiet. That constant stream of digital noise is a major trigger for modern-day anxiety and general burnout. And you don’t have to throw your phone into the Pacific to fix this. Just try setting some boundaries, like turning off your notifications after eight in the evening or keeping your phone away from the dinner table. Getting that time back means you can actually interact with the world in front of you.
3. Move your body outside the traditional gym
Getting your body moving is probably one of the best things you can do to improve a low mood, but nobody says you have to spend a fortune on a trendy boutique gym membership. One of the great things about Southern California is the weather, so you might as well take advantage of it.
Trade the stuffy treadmill for a brisk walk up Runyon Canyon, a morning jog along the beach path in Santa Monica or an outdoor yoga session in your local neighbourhood park. You will get a rush of endorphins from the combination of physical exercise and the sunshine, which naturally burns away stress and helps you sleep much better at night.
4. Focus on nutrition that supports your brain
What you put on your plate has a huge, direct impact on how you feel mentally. Scientists talk a lot these days about the gut-brain connection, and eating processed junk makes you feel more anxious and sluggish. Concentrate on whole foods, plenty of fresh vegetables, clean proteins and healthy fats to give your brain the real fuel it needs to deal with stress.
We are very lucky to have some of the best produce in the world here. Make it a habit to visit the historic farmers market on Third Street, or grab fresh ingredients at weekend markets in neighbourhoods such as Silver Lake or Mar Vista, to prepare nourishing meals at home.
5. Connect with a local community group
It’s a weird paradox that you can be completely alone in a city with millions of people. Loneliness can sneak up on you quickly, which is why it’s so important to find your own pocket of community for emotional health. The best way to make real friends is to join a local group that revolves around something you really enjoy.
Check out a local running club or casual sports league, or try an evening pottery class or community garden project near you. But there is something about a regular, weekly hobby where you are with the same friendly faces that creates a real sense of belonging that work just can’t give you.
6. Prioritise consistent and restful sleep
When a schedule gets too busy, sleep is usually the very first thing we cut. The problem is chronic exhaustion destroys your ability to deal with the day-to-day struggles. A simple, calming routine at night tells your brain the hectic workday is officially over. Try turning down the lights an hour before you want to go to bed, put away the screens and read a book or do some gentle stretching instead. A cool, dark bedroom is the perfect place to fall asleep fast and wake up feeling clear-headed and ready for the day ahead when you go to bed.
7. Practice daily mindfulness and breathing exercises
Mindfulness doesn’t need to mean sitting cross-legged on a cushion for hours on end. It’s really just about pausing long enough to take a breath for your nervous system from the chaos. Five minutes of sitting quietly and focusing on your slow, deep breathing first thing in the morning can completely change the course of your day. Deep breaths tell your body it’s safe and immediately slow down your heart rate and that tightness in your chest. You can do this quite easily while your morning coffee is brewing or while sitting in your car before you walk into a busy office.
8. Give your time to a meaningful cause
When you find yourself consumed by your own thoughts, getting out into the community by volunteering can be a wonderful way to get some much-needed perspective on life. Working with others will give you a lift in your mood while helping you feel more connected to a greater purpose. There are plenty of organisations out there that are looking for one more set of hands to help them out. Maybe you could help to sort the donations at your nearest food bank, volunteer at your local animal shelter, or participate in a community beach clean-up in Venice or Malibu.
9. Set clear boundaries at work and at home
Learning how to say no without feeling guilty is a literal superpower when it comes to mental health. It is very easy to overcommit because you want to keep everyone happy, but that is an express ticket to total burnout. Take a hard look at where your energy is going and start drawing some clear lines in the sand. That might mean letting your team know you will not be checking messages over the weekend, or turning down a social plan when you are genuinely exhausted. Guarding your downtime is not selfish; it is entirely necessary.
10. Make time for creative expression
Doing something creative purely for the sake of enjoying it is incredibly therapeutic. You do not need to be a masterpiece-level artist to get the mental benefits, either. It is entirely about the process of making something with your hands. Try writing your unfiltered thoughts in a journal, picking up a musical instrument, painting, trying a complex new recipe, or playing around with photography around town. Letting yourself begin a creative project gets you out of your head and gives your brain a welcome break from overthinking.
11. Find time to be around the ocean
The ocean holds its own kind of magic, and having the Pacific Ocean at one’s doorstep is one of the many great things about living in Los Angeles. There is something about the sounds of the rhythmic waves hitting the shores and the vastness of the horizon that makes all worries seem small in comparison. Always find the time to visit the coastline every time you feel like life is getting on top of you. One can go for a barefoot stroll around Manhattan Beach, sit atop the cliffs to view the sunset at Palos Verdes or even relax by the beach at Playa del Rey.
12. Seek help from professionals whenever you need to
There is simply no need to go through any hard psychological times all by yourself. It is actually a sign of being strong to seek professional help, and it provides you with tangible means of coping with all the highs and lows of life. There are fantastic specialised networks set up to help residents of Los Angeles.
In case you feel that you need help at any time, there is a free and anonymous hotline service available at the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health at 1-800-854-7771. The local branches of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, such as NAMI Westside Los Angeles and NAMI Greater LA County, also provide incredible free support groups and classes.
So, finding mental health support in Los Angeles isn’t hard there’s plenty of options you just need the courage to ask for help and the rest will be a lot easier.
To conclude
Finding out how to take care of your mind and mental well-being in Los Angeles is an ongoing process, which requires time, effort, and lots of patience towards yourself. But when gradually incorporating these 12 tips into your daily life, you will create a system that will really support you.
Whether it is going to be spending some time outside, setting stronger limits to your smartphone usage, or utilising the professional connections offered in LA for Mental Health, each one of the little steps matters. So, be gentle to yourself, pay attention to your body, and do not be ashamed of taking a pause now and then.
