Mental health is more than just about your mind. It is a determining factor of your physical health, peace, happiness, success, finances, and relationships. It is the pillar that holds the entire house. If it falls, everything else in your life collapses too.
Your mental health will affect your life choices and ultimately, how your life shapes up! These days, people are aware of the aspects of mental health but most people are more concerned about not having any mental health issues. So, if they have not been diagnosed with a mental illness they think their mental health is sorted.
And here lies the problem. Not everyone is struggling with severe mental problems but many of us do not have a balanced healthy mind. So many of us are unhappy and unsure about our life purpose. We are confined between meals, jobs, and the shows we watch. Surely, life has more to it but how do we find the path? We read tons of self-development books but our life remains just the same.
So many people are living a directionless life, all because their mental health is not in the right balance. We are chasing goals, accumulating materialistic stuff but avoiding taking care of our mind.
If you are facing severe mental issues, you should absolutely get help from a professional. But for anyone else, some of the tips we are going to discuss below could come in handy:
1. Meditate & Relax
The easiest way to take care of your mind is by grounding yourself. Meditation helps to do this and you don’t have to follow complicated practices or spend a lot of time doing it. Simply closing your eyes and sitting in a relaxed position, focusing on a mantra or a name for at least 5 minutes in the morning and evening can be useful.
Also, in this fast-paced world, it’s important to take breaks and relax. Our body and mind both need some relaxation. If you keep stretching them beyond their limits you will be drained for sure.
2. Maintain a proper diet
Your food choices and eating habits can make or break your mental health. Learn to choose healthy, easily digestible foods. Also, make it a practice to eat on time. Eating healthy, not skipping meals, and giving enough gaps between two meals give ample time for metabolism. If your body utilizes the nutrition properly you will feel light and energetic. It’s bound to improve your mood!
3. Follow a sleep schedule
It could never be stressed enough about how sleep is necessary for keeping a calm mind. If you don’t get enough sleep, you will feel irritated at the most trivial things. Have enough sleep every day to stay focused throughout the day. Also, going to bed at the same time helps you to sleep better and that refreshes your mind.
4. Disconnect from all gadgets at times
We are constantly getting diverted with so much going on in our virtual world. It’s important to bring our focus and stay in the moment. From time to time, switch off your phones and close your laptop. Look around and breathe deeply. Leave the FOMO and just observe the world around you. See what’s happening in the real world without interruption from the world of web. This helps in relaxing your mind.
5. Practice gratitude
Gratitude is what makes us feel happier. Instead of always comparing yourself with others or chasing materialistic stuff, learn to count your blessings. This will elevate your mood. Gratitude practice immediately makes you feel better about yourself and all the privileges you have. It could be that you live in a small house but nevertheless, you should be grateful to have a roof on your head while many people do not have any. When you start looking for the little joys around you, you will learn to appreciate things and people in your life and feel happier than ever.
6. Move your body
The more you have a sedentary lifestyle the more you feel depressed. Do some exercise regularly to keep yourself fit. As body and mind are connected, a healthy body will always ensure a healthy mind.
7. Read
When you read a book not only do you learn something new, it healthily engages your mind. Reading not only makes you smarter, it helps you to keep your mind off problems. The more you read the more your attention level increases as well.
8. Go out and connect with nature
Staying indoors all day long whether at home or the office actually puts a toll on your mental health. Go out and get some fresh air. Go to a park or a lake and walk barefooted on the grass, smell the flowers, look at the sky, or watch the birds. The more you connect with nature the more your mind becomes rejuvenated.
9. Avoid negativity
If you want sound mental health feed your mind with good thoughts and set positive intentions about yourself as well as others. Don’t engage in negative ideas. Try to avoid people who always see the negative side of everything. Hold good, positive beliefs and you will see how your mental health improves. The more you engage in positivity the more your life will prosper in every aspect.
10. Smile a lot
The more you smile the more your happy hormones, “endorphins” are released and as a result, you feel so much better! Smile at your reflection whenever you stand in front of a mirror, smile at complete strangers, laugh at your own mistakes, and laugh aloud with friends. The more you smile the more you push your mind to a happy zone.
Remember your mental health is an integral part of your existence. Like you need a healthy and fit body, similarly you need a healthy and fit mind to live the best life. If you suffer mentally your physical health will also suffer. Take care of your mental health and most importantly, be gentle to yourself. Learn to be your own best friend and accept all parts of yourself wholeheartedly and honestly.
