Since food is fuel for the body and the brain, consuming a  nutrient-rich diet can support your mental health. Avoid sugar, refined carbohydrates, coffee, and alcohol. Such foods can worsen your symptoms. Instead, eat plenty of green vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean protein, beans, nuts and seeds. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to support brain health. Get omega-3s from salmon, mackerel, flaxseed, and walnuts. Or, ask your doctor about taking an omega-3 supplement. Exercise offers neuroprotective benefits to the brain while boosting your energy and mood. Aerobic exercise, in particular, has been shown to improve your ability to understand social situations, enhance attention span, and boost working memory. Get at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day. Try aerobic exercises like running, hiking, swimming, dancing, or cycling. Poor sleep habits can signal a  relapse of schizophrenia symptoms or worsen ongoing symptoms. It’s important to talk to your doctor about sleep problems and come up with a game plan for improving sleep quality and duration.  Try sleeping only at night, reserving the bedroom for sleep and sex, and powering off electronic devices at least an hour before bed. You might also create a  bedtime routine, such as taking a warm bath or doing some light reading. If sleep problems persist, tell your doctor. They may be able to prescribe new medications or change your current meds to help you sleep better. Living with schizophrenia can mean having many days in which your symptoms are especially bad, leading to loss of contact with reality and even hospitalization. It can help to improve your outlook of living with this condition by starting a gratitude practice. Gratitude has been shown to benefit brain health and mood. Reap the benefits by jotting down some of the good things that happen on days when your symptoms are manageable.
Eat a nutritious diet. Stay physically active. Build a consistent sleep routine. Practice  gratitude for the good days.