Mental health & mental awareness is gaining popularity nowadays. The importance of mental health is better understood across the world in the 21st century. Furthermore, myths are being busted regarding mental illnesses. Aligning one’s emotional & psychological mindset is basically taking care of your mental health. Moreover, it is important to have a healthy mind as it impacts your behavior as well as your productivity. In this article, detailed information on what is mental health, tips for mental health and how should you take care of mental health.
What is Mental Health?
Mental health is nothing other than, firstly, emotional well-being. Secondly, psychological well-being. Lastly, social well-being. The way our mind copes in these three areas impacts various aspects. In other words, it is how a person thinks, feels & behaves in daily routine. Mental health mainly determines how we cope with stress, positive & negative events in our life. Furthermore, how the decisions and choices we make in our life.
Mental health plays a huge role across the lifespan. It is important during childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and retirement. A healthy mind enables us to cope with our ever-changing life. An individual’s mental health can be affected due to the following factors:
- Biological factors. Moreover, genetics plays a huge role.
- An individual’s experiences in life. For instance, negative experiences like trauma or abuse.
- Family history and past history is important.
For more information on the Myths & Facts of Mental Health. Click here.
Why is Mental Health so Important?
We all try to be physically fit by exercising and working out. Our physical health determines our immunity, and how we fight diseases. A healthy body means better immunity. Similarly, the same is the case with mental health. Mentally fitness is vital to cope with the surroundings easily. The healthier the mind, the better we cope with difficult times in life. Furthermore, risk-taking & important decisions in life can be better decided by people who have a stable as well as a healthy mind.
However, if constant worry and sadness are loaded in your mind, mental instability can occur for a while. When mentally you are exhausted, your mental health goes in the downward spiral. The negative thought processes result in negative affect. Moreover, poor decisions making and lack of concentration. Often leading to mild depression symptoms. Here is a Guide to overcome Depression with ease.
Click here for more information on depression.
Secondly, mental health plays a huge role in interpersonal relations. Furthermore, keeping a balance in life. For instance, at each stage of life, we have responsibilities, social life, and most importantly a personal life. Let us consider an example of Ravi who is currently doing his Bachelors’s in Engineering. During this age, we give priority to friends and college life ( parties and chilling). Therefore, only a handful of college students are able to balance their life. Mental health enables a person to meet their emotional, psychological, and social needs. So, in Ravi’s case, a healthy mind will help him to fulfill his responsibilities as a student & enjoy college life with his friends. Lastly, and most importantly, work on himself and his own personal growth.
Various Ways to Boost Mental Health
Mentally being healthy is just the same taking care of yourself physically. For instance, when we take care of a plant, we make sure to water it daily. Otherwise, it would die sooner or later. The mind works in the same way. When you fill the mind with piling thoughts, it gets overloaded. Therefore, mental exhaustion takes place. Importance and taking care of mental health is significant in one’s life. The following are a few tips for good mental health.
Slow down the fast-paced life
Often it happens that we are so busy in our life, we forget about the small things in life. Running behind our dreams and achieving our goals is our only focus in life.
Therefore, making sure that we slow down and enjoy our lives, is a significant stress buster. Furthermore, mental tiredness can be coped with enjoying life the way it is. Get in touch with the inner self. The phrase there is a child in everyone is apt. One should be in touch with the actual side, enjoy and slow down.
Moreover, when we relax and calm down, we have a clear view of the obstacles we are facing. Problems can get you tense. However, when we inculcate relaxation techniques like yoga and meditation, the tendency to feel positive is higher. Firstly, we look at the obstacles as challenges instead of failures. Secondly, you realize that the present moment matters and focus more on it. Instead of focusing on the past or future.
On the other hand, apart from yoga and meditation, there are other ways to relax & calm yourself. For instance, listening to silent music, drawing, or even sitting in silence in the company of nature is very calming for some. However, for some relaxing can be through a spa massage, exercise, reading, watching something funny, and many more.
To sum up, a healthy mind will be the result of taking care of it from all aspects. For instance, sitting idle isn’t good. As your mind gets overloaded with unnecessary thoughts. On the other hand, filling your mind with too many thoughts at one time can be overwhelming. Slowing down is extremely important once in a while to keep a balance in life.
Click Here for a Beginner’s Guide to Techniques & Benefits of Meditation.
Spend time with Family and Friends
Quality time with your loved ones is the ultimate, to boost your energy and relax you. Furthermore, they are your intimate circle who know the most you. Firstly, they understand the reasons why you’ve been so worried, stressed, and extremely busy in recent times. Secondly, they won’t nag you about something the outer circle might. Lastly, they just want to enjoy and make the precious present moment a memorable moment filled with happiness. The importance of family and friends is understood only in difficult times. Furthermore, the importance of mental health is realized when you are in complete distress.
Time spent with your loved ones passes by very quickly. Long hours feels like a few mins. You end up forgetting about whatever was bothering you. The same funny old school jokes and teasing and sharing memories with your close friends will make you feel light and blessed too.
Moreover, meeting and sharing what is going on in your life is beneficial. Talking to someone face to face lets out emotions and tense feelings that you try to hide in the virtual video-calling. Deep conversations and going down the memory lane will make you feel happy at heart. Furthermore, talking to someone in person helps you think from different perspectives as well.
Taking care of mental health is extremely vital. This is one of the ways to boost mental health. We understand the importance of mental health only when we are in the worst. This is the moment that we do not know how to get our of it.
Appreciate Yourself & Your Achievements
We have goals in mind. We only look ahead to achieving are bigger & long term goals in life. In the process, sometimes we forget to celebrate the small achievements and baby steps we are taking. When you appreciate yourself, on the small goals will you get the motivation to achieve your bigger goals.
Furthermore, appreciating yourself will give you the confidence to achieve bigger goals. Mental health deteriorates when our ideal self and does not match with our current self. Failures and obstacles are common factors of distress. Therefore, it is important to make sure you realize how much hard work you have put in. Firstly, at this stage celebrating the small victories are extremely important. Secondly, the happiness that you feel after celebrating some achievement cannot be put into words.
Eat Healthy – Be Physically & Mentally Healthy
Unhealthy food, for instance, junk food, aerated drinks are definitely tempting. But, these food items do not contribute to our health in any way. In other words, both mentally and physically our health will deteriorate. Once in awhile cheat days are exceptional cases, but as a day-to-day routine healthy food habits being inculcated have a greater advantage.
Moreover, unhealthy foods affect the mood, decrease your energy, and also decrease your immunity. Mental exhaustion can lead to harm to the body physically. Therefore, you will need immunity to fight back the stress with resilience.
Here are a few food items that affect the mood in a negative way. Namely, caffeine, alcohol, excess sugary food items( cakes, pastries), fried food are a few. Each and everyone would prefer eating these over the mainstream healthy foods. But, have you ever notices feeling bloaty after eating them? Physically you feel bloaty. On the other hand, mentally your mood gets affected too.
However, food items that boost one’s mood are fresh fruits, dry fruits(nuts, walnuts, cashew). Furthermore, food rich in Omega-3s like salmon, tuna, and many more. These food items give a positive mood. In addition to that, they are also healthy for the body.
Hope you have had a clear understanding of the importance of mental health. Taking care of mental health is vital to lead a happy and balanced life. Hope you have received insights on the importance of mental health and the reasons for its growing awareness. The various ways of taking care of mental health enable you to feel at ease. These small and easy tips to boost mental health can be easily inculcated in our lives time & again.
The American Psychological Association (Official Website) updates mental health-related issues and articles regularly on their website.
FAQ Regarding Tips for Good Mental Health – A Complete Beginner’s Guide
Mental health is basically the emotional, psychological & social well-being of an individual. In other words, it is how a person thinks, feels, and behaves to the surroundings and to events in their life.
The signs vary from individual to individual. But, some of the common signs are as follows. Firstly, extreme mood swings and irritability for no proper reason. Secondly, constant worry, fear, anxiety, and nervousness about even the smallest aspects. Lastly, social withdrawal (isolation) and huge changes in sleeping and eating patterns.
Firstly, talk to someone how you are feeling. Engage in an activity that you are interested in. For instance, painting, cooking, swimming, or anything. Secondly, eat healthily and sleep well. Thirdly, take a break, breath, and come to terms with what is happening in your life. Basically, relax and calm yourself down.
Editor’s Note | Tips for Good Mental Health
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, mental has deteriorated. Although there is a tense situation. Each and everyone is going through a bad phase financially and mentally too. We all need to appreciate the various aspects we have in our lives. For instance, having a loving family & having a roof over our head. Furthermore, the lockdown is a great opportunity to spend quality time with family. Self-care and hobbies are a great way to change your worries. This is a difficult phase that is going to pass soon. Stay healthy, Stay Safe & take care of your mental health as well. Be Positive!
