Getting up early, meditating, exercising, and replenishing your plate with a variety of healthy treats can do wonders for a person’s physical health. However, in this fast-paced, technology-driven age, taking care of physical health is not enough to achieve overall well-being.
Because mental health and physical health depend on each other, it is essential to take care of mental health to increase resilience and strengthen the conviction to overcome all kinds of obstacles in the different stages of life. At the same time, a healthy state of mind acts as a bulwark against substance abuse, psychological stressors, and other adverse conditions. It is an essential element to lead a happy life.
Although the prevailing culture is generally quick to dismiss mental disorders and conditions as behavioral problems, they are just as fatal as physical illnesses. Most stigma and misconceptions related to mental disorders are due in part to inaccurate beliefs and information.
Such is the importance of good mental health that a person must not be experiencing the symptoms of a psychiatric disorder to make the decision to care for their mental health. Everyone benefits from a healthy and positive state of mind, regardless of gender, age, social status or ethnicity. A person’s mental health determines how they will feel, respond and act on a daily basis. It also directs your approach to coping with stress, decision-making skills, social interactions, etc.
Here are some ways to improve mental health:
- Start the day with a cup of coffee: Starting the day with a cup of coffee has been associated with lower rates of depression. Another hot drink that improves mental health is green tea.
- Keep a gratitude journal: When a person examines their thoughts or counts their blessings, it helps them recognize and appreciate who they are and what they have. Research suggests that expressing gratitude in a journal (digital or paper) improves mental health and brings clarity.
- Do a digital detox: It’s a good idea to unplug from time to time. Although smartphones offer real-time communications and a wide range of utilities, they often become addicted to the Internet and social media. As a result, they keep constantly checking for email notifications and alerts. Leave the phone behind for the day, engage in something fun, or enjoy a heart-to-heart with someone.
- Take a leap of faith: Fear of failure, commitment, and receiving the short end of the stick often prevents people from trying something they’ve always wanted to do or improve upon. As the saying goes, “You don’t have to see the whole ladder, just take the first step,” focusing on moving in the right direction is better for a person’s mental health than being stuck in a rut. Instead of constantly worrying and looking over your shoulder, one should face situations as and when they arise.
- Go out for a leisurely walk: A walk, preferably in a quiet and serene place like a park or in the woods, instills new energy and insights. Research shows that taking a walk is associated with increased energy levels, cortisol burning, protection against depression, and increased overall well-being.
- Smile like you mean it: Putting on a happy expression during times of stress and difficult periods can be too much to ask. However, smiling is surprisingly an effective coping mechanism as it lowers the heart rate and has a calming effect. In fact, another reason to instill this healthy practice is that smiling uses fewer muscles than frowning, which protects the face from developing fine lines and wrinkles.
A mind is too valuable to be wasted
To achieve a healthy balance in life, it is important to take care of both mental and physical health. Mental health neglect is sometimes an important risk factor for the onset of psychiatric disorders. Therefore, it is essential to remember that seeking help in such cases is not a sign of weakness but of strength.