In the day and age we live in, we are surrounded by immediate gratification as everything is so instant and accessible to us. Think of our smartphones or laptops, and you’ll see just how instant things can be as you have a search engine within reach. You can even ask Alexa a question, without having to type anything in. And while all of this is well and good, it can make us have less patience, especially for longer term things. Social media and not being able to switch off from our phones, and always being contactable, can also have an impact on our mental health, which is what this post is going to be all about. Because just like with our physical health, we need to make sure that we are taking care of our mental health.
If we let out mental health slide, then it can have a huge impact on the rest of our lives, and impact how we do things from day today. But all it takes is some small changes or some small healthy habits to start doing each day. Here are just a few tips for you to think about and start to implement, if you think that you need a pick-me-up and to take better care of yourself and your mind.
Kick Bad Habits
We all know that bad habits are not good for us, hence the name. There are many reasons why they aren’t either; they can be addictive, cost a lot of money, take over your life, and impact your physical health. But they do also have an impact on your mind.
Addictions can have negative consequences, and mental health issues can be one of those things. So for starters, you could find ways to cut down. You could look for a different way to destress, rather than comfort eating, for example. So look at your life and hat habits are better off out of the way, and then you can go from there.
Physical Exercise
Exercise has so many good benefits for our overall health and well-being. You can burn calories, get stronger, and feel happier.
Exercise can be a good way to destress and improve your mental health as you are taking time out to do something for yourself, and you’ll be reaping the benefits of the hormones that come from exercise, that make you feel happier and do help to relieve stress. You don’t have to be running marathons either; just choose something that works for you that makes you more active, and you will feel the mental health benefits.
Embrace Simplicity
There can be a certain level of stress that can come from trying to have it all. Whether that is in life or with physical possessions, it can have a negative impact. The ‘keeping up with the Jones’ attitude can cause us plenty of issues with our mental health.
So instead, look to embrace a life of simplicity. You don’t need to have everything or be doing everything. Learn to say no to things, as well as resist the urge to buy material things that aren’t really going to help you and your happiness. When you want and need less, you will have much more clarity, and your mental health can be much improved.
Have a Support Network
When you are isolated and feel alone, then quite naturally, it is going to have an impact on your mental health. Not having someone to talk to can take its toll. So look to create a support network around yourself. If family or friends isn’t going to be an option, then look for support groups online.
That contact, and knowing that you can talk to them as and when you need to, can really help you and your mental health. If you need help, then reach out and make sure that you can have that human unity that we do all crave from time to time.
Mindfulness
With the immediate gratification that we can be used to, it can be hard to switch off. Take eating breakfast, for example. Do you grab something quick to eat, and eat it while watching TV, scrolling online, or trying to get ready at the same time?
Mindfulness is all about doing those things one at a time, and about being more present and in the moment. So if you are always trying to do too much, then it will make you more anxious and even depressed, as you can’t relax. So take some time each day to be more mindful and to relax.