"Mental wellness" is a term many of us have become more familiar with. But what can we, as women, do to improve it? If you've wondered about mental health for a while, keep reading. These nine tips will help you get started.

1. Exercise Consistently

Exercise is one of the easiest and fastest ways to boost your mental health. If you're feeling unmotivated or down, get some good hiking shoes and go for a nature walk. If you're low on time, do some jumping jacks or jog in place.

2. Sleep Well

On average, you need 7-9 hours of sleep a night. Getting good rest will help you feel more energized and positive throughout each day. If you're struggling to sleep through the night, try to pinpoint the cause and work to relieve it.

3. Monitor Your Hormones

Even if you've gone through menopause, hormones can still fluctuate month to month. Caring for mental health means making sure you're in balance.

If you feel moody, depressed, or like you're always up and down, contact your doctor. See if your hormones may be playing a role.

4. Keep a Gratitude Log

This is another easy way to give your mental health a quick boost. If you start to feel down, think about ten things you're grateful for.

It may sound silly or simplistic, but it works. Continue listing things until you feel better.

5. Journal or Freewrite

Improving mental health can start with a regular journaling practice, too. Take time each day to jot down your unfiltered thoughts.

Don't overthink or edit what you write. Just spend 15-20 minutes getting all your thoughts onto paper. You'll feel better and may even gain a new perspective on things that were worrying you.

6. Find a Hobby You Love

Nothing makes you feel good quite like doing something you love! Take up a new hobby that really lights you up.

It could be walking 5ks or joining a spin class. Maybe you've always wanted to try painting or ceramics. Use this as your sign that it's time to give it a try.

7. Eat Well

Eating well may not be the most immediately satisfying habit. But over the course of a few weeks, you'll notice a huge difference. Eating well can help you feel more positive, have more energy, and feel better overall.

So take care of your body, from your head to your feet. Eat more natural, unprocessed foods. Make sure you're getting all the vitamins and nutrients you need.

8. Drink Water

There's no doubt that drinking water will improve health. When you're dehydrated, you're more prone to feeling tired and getting headaches. These can make you feel frustrated, impatient, and more likely to snap at the people you love.

Stay hydrated, especially as you add more movement into your life. After all, your body is 60% water, which means it needs lots of it to function properly!

9. Connect With Family and Friends

Making connections with loved ones is a key component of mental health and wellness. Women need love, support, and community. Plus, having people to bounce ideas off of or vent to will keep you from dwelling on negative thoughts.

Support Your Mental Wellness

Taking care of your mental wellness may involve changing some of your habits. But it's well worth it to feel more upbeat and positive each day. So pick one or two of these tips to get started and work your way up to the rest.

And before you get moving, make sure you have the right shoes to support your new routine. Check out our array of active shoes for women here.