7 well-known facts that boost mental health
We are already several weeks into 2019, and a lot of people have already given up on their new year resolutions. Probably, you had resolved to quit smoking and drinking, eat more vegetables, go to the gym every day, or even volunteer some of your spare time. But for various reasons, you are not making any strides in your 2019 resolutions.
This year, before you let your resolutions fly out of the window, probably you can try out a different approach. Did you know that most of the times people fail to achieve their objectives because their minds are clouded and they can’t think clearly? Before you embark on your new year resolutions, why not consider investing in your mental health?
Why is good mental health so important?
Mental health and physical health are related in many ways. You should take care of your mental health just the way you take care of your physical health. Unfortunately, many people don’t recognize when their mental health is deteriorating. Generally, good mental health means being able to think clearly, feel and react appropriately to different aspects of your life.
If you are going through a period of poor mental health, you might find yourself caught up in thoughts, feeling, and reacting abnormally. Poor mental health can feel as bad as physical illness or sometimes even worse. The worst part is poor mental health does not only affect you, but it also affects the people around you.
How can you take charge of your mental health?
Not knowing what is happening in your mind can be upsetting, confusing and terrifying. The fears can stop you from talking to other people about your problems or even seeking help, which increases your distress and the loneliness. Fortunately, you don’t have to wait for your mental health to get to this state. The following seven tips from Brisbane Psychologists Wellbeing can help to boost your mental health this year.
- Get in shape
Regular exercises have numerous benefits not only to physical health but also to mental health. Scientists believe that exercises trigger the release of chemicals known as endorphins in the brain. These chemicals are known for their stress-relieving and mood-boosting effects. That is why experts recommend exercises as a powerful antidote to depression, anxiety, and stress.
Besides, exercises will help you to get into good shape, which makes you feel confident about your body. You can start by looking for small ways to incorporate exercises into your daily routine. For instance, you can choose to start taking stairs instead of the elevator or even walking instead of catching a bus.
- Switch to healthy eating
The food that you eat nourishes your entire body, including the brain. There’s usually a strong connection between what we eat and how we feel. For instance, taking a caffeinated beverage can have an immediate effect on your brain. Just like other vital organs in the body, your brain needs a proper mix of nutrients to function properly.
A proper diet for your brain should include whole grain cereals, different fruits and vegetables, oily fish, nut and seeds, dairy products, and plenty of water. You should consider avoiding processed foods and too much alcohol. Combining a balanced diet with an appropriate exercise routine can work miracles on your mental health.
- Meditate
There’s a lot of scientific evidence pointing out to the numerous health benefits of meditation. Besides keeping stress at bay, meditation can help to improve your concentration, boost your memory, improve your mood, and promote better sleep. The best bit is that you don’t need a whole morning session to meditate. You can take as little as ten minutes every day to meditate, and still reap its many benefits. Over the years, mental health experts, spiritual leaders, and educators have developed numerous forms of meditation. It, therefore, means that you will always find the type of meditation that will work for you.
- Get enough sleep
Scientific research has shown that an individual’s sleeping pattern and their mental health are entwined. Getting sufficient sleep improves your alertness, enhances your mood, improves your memory and creativity, and it also improves your creativity.
Experts recommend that an adult should get at least seven hours of uninterrupted sleep every day for optimal health. Sleep deprivation can result in a host of health problems including depression, cardiovascular diseases, anxiety, weight gain, mental fatigue, and a compromised immune system.
- Open up to someone
Opening up to someone about how you feel can help you stay in good mental health especially when you are troubled. Majority of the people fear to talk to other people about their problems because they see it as a sign of weakness. But No! Sharing your experiences with someone else is part of taking charge of your mental health.
It can help you to cope with a problem you have been hiding deep in your mind for a while. We all need the support of other people; otherwise, we will feel lonely and left out. We all know it’s not easy to open up to people about your personal life but think of the good that it can do to your mental health.
- Cut off toxic relationships
A relationship is supposed to make you happy and feel loved. However, if your significant other is constantly trying to pin you down, it can have a devastating effect on your mental health. It is better to love and lose than to continue loving while it takes a toll on your mental health. People fail to step out of toxic relationships because they fear heartbreaks. No doubt healing a broken heart can take time, but you can embrace different tricks to make it through this period without too much pain.
- Reinvent yourself
If you have tried most of the things listed here and you are still not satisfied, perhaps it’s time to make some serious changes in your life. These changes could be in the form of finding a better job, moving on from a toxic relationship, or even moving to a new neighborhood. If you are experiencing a major shift in your life, you should consider starting doing things differently.
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