It’s important for every human being to understand that our mental health is just as important as our physical health. Improving our physical health can be pretty straight forward, but what about improving our mental health? There are many ways that we can improve our mental health. One of the best is speaking to a therapist about the issues you have been going through, but there are also many daily habits that you can change to improve your mental health. Stopping these patterns will reverse the negative effects that these habits have caused and will boost the state of your mental health. Here some habits that have a negative impact on your mental health and you should start changing immediately:
Overusing technology
Technology has so many incredible adaptations. The ability to do almost everything from our phones and being able to video chat with loved ones from across the world is nothing short of wonderful. However, there is a very fine line between technology being helpful for our daily lives and letting it take over. Staring at a screen all day long isn’t healthy and can be a huge cause of distraction from our daily responsibilities. Further, social media, among other forms of technology, can cause us to feel bad about our own lives or feel like we are not doing enough by comparing ourselves to others posts. So, try to cut down your screen time as much as possible!
Poor sleeping patterns
Our sleep affects our overall health so much more than we think. Even one night of bad sleep can make us irritable, negative, and find it overall difficult to concentrate on simple tasks. You should be getting the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep every single night! Having trouble sleeping? Click here
Poor eating patterns
Poor eating patterns can lead to lack of energy, poor cognitive functioning, and generally just not feeling good in our bodies. Your diet plays a huge role in your mental health! The food you consume directly impacts the function of your brain and, ultimately, your mood. Overeating, not eating enough or not getting nutritious food can have a huge effect on your mental health. It’s important to nourish our bodies in the best way we can while honoring our cravings when they arise.
Neglecting exercise or movement
Exercise has been proven to reduce stress, anxiety, and even symptoms of depression. Incorporating exercise into your daily routine does not have to be a chore. Finding an exercise or form of movement you enjoy is incredibly important. Get up and move your body! Don’t like going to the gym? Dance? Don’t enjoy dancing? Try yoga or follow along a pilates YouTube video! There are so many ways to keep fit, so no matter what your preferences are, you are sure to find a workout that fits your needs.
Lack of routine/planning and procrastination
Not having a routine or procrastination can lead to unnecessary anxiety and stress. It’s important to plan ahead and give yourself the best chance of successfully completing whatever tasks you need to get done. By giving yourself the adequate amount of time, you also help your performance, because you will likely be delivering quality work when given more time to work through things.
Overworking
Not having an appropriate work-life balance can be extremely damaging to our mental health. It’s important to not burn yourself out. Taking time to recharge and take time to relax is important to make sure we are performing our best in all areas of our lives.
Staying in toxic relationships
Do you leave feeling down or drained after spending time with certain people in your life? Staying in toxic relationships that are either physically or emotionally abusive reinforce the belief that we are not worth better treatment. This adds to how we view ourselves and can greatly affect our mental health. So, try to avoid toxic people as much as possible and instead, surround yourself with people who are supportive and positive.
Isolation or lack of socialization
While it’s important for everyone to spend some alone time, completely isolating yourself from the world isn’t the way to go. There’s a reason solitary confinement is considered cruel and inhumane. As humans, we are social creatures and meant to embrace interacting with others on a frequent basis. Isolation can be damaging to both physical and mental health. Those who isolate are more likely to feel depressed and not as able to deal with stressful situations.
If you are struggling with mental health issues or simply want to improve your help, focusing on the above habits can be helpful. There are, of course, other bad habits that can affect your mental health, but these are the ones we see the most. Your mental health is one of the most powerful things you can invest/work on because your mental health truly shapes your whole life. You deserve to live a happier and more successful life. Removing these bad habits can be the first step to getting there.
