Why You Should Take Care of Your Mental Health

Mental health is something that is not always talked about. Unfortunately, it is something that you should really take care of as it is a vital part of your overall general health. When you talk about mental health, many classify it as a taboo or sensitive subject that signifies people in asylums and mental hospitals.

One thing you have to realize is that you should take care of your emotional and mental health as much, if not more than your physical health. There are plenty of ways to do this such as going through detox and exercising. It is a vital part that greatly affects your life through your thoughts, behaviour, emotions, and general mood.

Having a perfectly balanced emotional and mental health increases your productivity and efficiency on all of your daily activities, including work, school, and other hobbies. Your relationships are also heavily influenced by your mental health. It helps you adjust and cope with whatever negative change that life throws at you.

Mental health is something that should be given the same importance as your physical health as it is crucial for a healthy, balanced life. Unfortunately, the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) found out in a recent study that one in five American residents experience mental health issues. This translates to over 40 million adults a year who deal with anxiety, depression, or any other mental disorder.

Taking care of your mental health is both easy and hard at the same time. I compiled a list of some general tips that you can do to ensure that your mental health is taken care of.

Be Active

Physical and Mental Health go hand in hand. Experts have found that exercise releases feel-good chemicals such as endorphins, dopamines, serotonins, and oxytocins. Regular exercise also helps keep you physically fit which can boost your self-esteem. To feel better, you need to look better, and vice versa. That is the general rule.

Keep in Touch With Friends

Friends make you feel good. Having friendships are crucial if you want to lead a fulfilling life. No man is an island. We all need someone. Friends may annoy us to bits but they are also there to support us whenever we have problems.

Relationships are a crucial element in having good mental health. Friends keep us grounded and put things in perspective. Making new friends while also keeping up with old friends should be one of your priorities in life. Having friends early in life also teach us important social skills needed to form future relationships.

Eat Healthy

Who does not love food? We all need food to survive and most of it is delicious, meaning eating has become a very much enjoyable activity. Unfortunately, not all food is healthy. It is actually quite the opposite. Studies have found that there is a strong connection between what we feel and what we eat. For example, caffeine and sugar have an immediate effect on your body.

However, food has a long-lasting effect on your brain. The brain, just like any of your other organs need a healthy mix of vitamins and nutrients to stay healthy and function well. As a general rule, a diet that is good for you physically is also good for you mentally.

Make sure that you eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, whole grain foods, nuts and seeds, oily fish, and plenty of water. You should also eat at least three meals a day to ensure that you do not get hungry and lack energy throughout the day. You can also do a detox once in a while to ensure that everything is running perfectly in your body.

Cut Off Toxic People In your Life

The worst thing you can have in life is unsupporting and abusive people. These are the people who would revel in your failures and would rather you stay in the dumps. It may sound diabolical but these toxic people should be cleanly cut off.

If someone in your life makes you miserable, do not hesitate to let them go. Don’t let anyone irrelevant in your life make you feel that you are not worth it. Sometimes, you do not realize how much someone’s affecting your mental health until you have cut them off. 

Take A Breather

Everyone needs a breather once in a while. Life can be very stressful at times and if you do not escape it once in a while, then you would be stressed all the time. Stress is one of the biggest factors that add up to your mental health.

You should learn how to rest and go on vacations. It doesn’t even have to be a gregarious out of the country kind of deal. Sometimes, the best breathers are just a chill day in bed binge watching Netflix shows and eating junk food.