Our to-do lists are pouring over with goals focusing on better savings, smart working habits, healthier eating, being more physically active, traveling, spending time with families and friends. But we usually miss fitting our mental health into our daily regimes. There is always the issue of not having enough time or money, or something else. It is important to prioritize mental health because it makes the basis of everything else you do.
Expert consultants here at Hisblue have formulated the pointers for you to follow to work towards the betterment of your mental well-being. But before starting on this journey, knowing what mental health is crucial.
The World Health Organization defines mental health as “a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and can contribute to her or his community.” This means you feel both the ups and downs of your psychological and emotional health, and are able to cope with them without feeling the need to escape.
There is a difference between mental health and mental illness. Mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder may affect a person’s mood, feelings, thinking, or behavior. Mental health is not your mental illness. It refers to your psychological, emotional, and overall well-being.
How To Know If Your Mental Health Is Deteriorating?
- Rapid fluctuations in your emotions or mood swings.
- Dramatic changes in appetite or sleep patterns.
- Decreased interest in school, work, or social activities that were enjoyed before.
- Not able to concentrate on tasks, decreased memory retention.
- Getting highly sensitive to sounds, lights, odors, or touch.
- Feeling disconnected from self or the surroundings.
- Jittery or nervous behavior around others.
- Irrational thoughts and behaviors.
- Feeling low in energy, almost all the time.
- Development of unusual characteristics or behavior.
These are the starting signs that usually go undiagnosed. In case you feel any overwhelming emotion and need to seek help, do not hesitate to contact your friends, family members, or seek medical care.
What Can You Do?
Schedule ‘Me’ Time
Take time to know yourself. Delve deeper into your mind and soul, and figure out the activities that give you pure joy. It may be cooking for some, writing for others. Make sure your ‘me’ time includes creative activities. Creative outlets are known to improve mood and productivity.
Take Care Of Your Body
What we feed our body, becomes it. Taking care of physical health is important for your mental health, just as mental well-being is important for your physical health. Eating a proper diet consisting of fresh produce ensures that nutritional requirements are met and keeps your energy levels in proportion as well. Consuming processed food, sugar, and drinking alcoholic beverages daily can impact your energy levels.
Be Physically Active
Regular exercises keep the levels of the happy hormones in check, thus boosting our mental health. Even modest exercises such as brisk walking, cycling, running, or even dancing around while doing chores, can increase the serotonin & endorphin levels in the body.
Track Your Sleep
Proper sleep is essential for your overall health. Improper sleep can interfere with your biological clock and lead to many health issues, including consequences on your mental health. Try meditating before going to sleep to relax your mind and body to get effective sleep.
Spend Time With Loved Ones
Spending time with your family and friends helps in lifting your emotional spirits immensely. Hugging your loved ones, holding their hands, playing with a baby, or with a pet releases the feel-good hormones.
Communicate
Talking about how you feel puts your mind at ease. It may feel awkward in the beginning, but talking about your troubles with someone would make you feel listened to and supported. Articulating what you feel is an initiative to take charge of your life. Stay in regular touch with your friends and family members with whom you feel comfortable. There is no de-stressor better than a hearty talk with someone who knows you well.
Start a Journal
If you are not much of a talker, give a shot at writing a journal. It’s extremely therapeutic when you jot down your emotions and reflect on them. It helps you make sense of the tangled string of thoughts. There are so many ways to journal to improve your mental health. You can try gratitude journals, writing what you are grateful for every day to be more appreciative of what you have. Or write it before going to bed to reflect on your daily activities. You can also make it an art journal to express yourself any way you can to distress.
Surround Yourself With Positive People
The company you keep decides the thoughts your mind feeds on. So give it more positivity and hopefulness. Remove yourself from a toxic and negative environment to flourish.
Practice Mindfulness
Living in the present moment is a skill worth acquiring. Nobody changed their life by pondering over what went on in the past, and nobody gained anything by worrying about what is yet to come. Live every moment of your life by connecting with your body, experience everything that your senses perceive, and be aware of the thoughts and feelings they incite in you. That’s mindfulness! In our pursuit of Instagrammable and Snapchat-worthy pictures, we have forgotten to just be there and enjoy our surroundings.
Be Nice To Yourself
The tiny voice in our head, which expresses its unhappiness with our actions from time to time, yeah that one. Keep a check on what it tells you, and call it out when it’s being harsh. Giving yourself pep talks is an effective way to boost your self morale.
Take A Mental Health Day When Needed
When things start overwhelming you, take a back seat and relax. No one else can know the inside of your mind as you, so when you sense something is going off, get off the radar. Leave your electronic devices, your social media, to-watch lists on digital media, and give your body time to heal itself. Read a book or schedule a massage.
Help Others
Giving your time and energy to help others can be very satisfying. Volunteering for needy people improves your spirits and self-esteem. It gives your life a meaningful purpose.
Seek Help When Required
Asking for help when needed is not a sign of weakness, but strength. When things seem unmanageable, seek help from a psychologist or a psychiatrist. How soon you bounce back from mental health issues depends on how soon you started on the right treatment.
In a nutshell
Nobody is a superhero. Everyone goes through highs and lows in this rollercoaster journey of life. How we cope with them makes all the difference. Mental health is an integral part of your overall well-being. Taking a little time out, even fifteen minutes out of your everyday life for self-care can have a progressive impact on your life.