Top Tips for Optimum Mental Wellness

Im Shi Wan Arena Hommes Plus

Your mental health comprises your emotional, social, and psychological well-being which impacts how you feel, think, and behave daily. It’s essential to pay attention to it as it helps you maintain a healthy and balanced life. The National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) revealed that over 40 million Americans experience mental conditions annually with one out of twenty five people battling a severe mental illness. This is why the optimum mental wellness of your mind is vital to your health. 

Practice positive thinking
A positive outlook means that you choose to see the good in every circumstance even when it may not look pleasant. According to three surveys in peer-reviewed journals, positive thinking can boost your immune system and increase your happiness levels while reducing anxiety and stress-related emotions. It’s also known to reduce your risks of contracting conditions such as heart diseases, stroke, and cancer. So when you feel overwhelmed, you should try to focus on the good things in your life. Doing this gives you hope when you go through challenging situations and motivates you to keep pushing.

Perhaps you’re new to positive thinking or can't keep it going for long. In that case, you might want to try spending more time with positive people, as they can help change how you perceive situations around you. You may also start your day on a good note by affirming yourself and speaking positive thoughts into your day. It can also help if you keep a gratitude journal to record every good experience you face throughout your day. This way you can have a positive reference for days where you feel down.

Be physically fit
Adopting a healthy lifestyle increases your longevity, helps promote your psychological well-being, and reduces your chances of developing mental conditions. Research conducted by Julia Velten and Associates in 2018 reveals that practicing healthy habits such as exercising and quitting alcohol can improve cognitive function and put mental illnesses at bay. This should be a good incentive to pay more attention to your health.

One way to go about this is to eat lots of leafy greens and foods high in omega-3 fatty acids and B vitamins. You should also cut out high calorie and high sugar foods they can cause you to feel sluggish and inhibit your mental growth. Regular exercise will help as well but be sure to pick a workout routine that you enjoy to maintain consistency. It’s prudent to get seven to eight hours of sleep regularly and stay hydrated throughout the day.

Protect your family
Nothing puts your mind at ease quite like knowing that your loved ones are safe and in good health. Adding home security features is a great way to get peace of mind since it removes the threat of intrusions. Taking out medical and life insurance will ensure that your family is provided for in case anything happens. Seeing their smiles won’t only fill you with pride and pleasure, it also gives you added self-assurance. After all, nothing in this life is more important than being a great parent, spouse, and family member.

We all have unique living situations and family circumstances. It is vital that you adapt to those. Hiring an expert caregiver to help support your elderly parents if the need arises will create a better situation for the whole family. Your loved one will receive the assistance they require while retaining their independence. You can continue to play a key role in their caregiving while also retaining a more natural child-parent relationship. This can be hugely beneficial for your mental health compared to being a carer first and relative second.

Limit social media use
While social media is ideal for keeping in touch with people and accessing information, not knowing your limit can cause your mental health to suffer. Sixteen different studies revealed that significant depression symptoms and suicidal tendencies were found in people who frequently used social media platforms. Also, the fear of missing out (FOMO) can cause feelings of stress and anxiety that will adversely affect your mental well-being. Therefore, it is important to limit how you spend your time on social media.

You can start by setting a time limit on your daily screen time but try to be realistic to avoid a relapse. Try reading books or playing mind-challenging games to engage your mind so that you forget about your phone for a while. If you want to indulge in social media for some time, you should be mindful of the information you let in. For instance, you can learn how to delete a comment on Instagram if it’s demeaning or causes you to feel down.

Extend a helping hand to others
Kindness not only puts a smile on someone's face but also helps your emotional and mental health in diverse ways. According to research by Mental Health America, kind people have a reduced risk of depression, fewer pains, and enjoy more peace, good health, and a longer life span. For these reasons, you may want to extend a helping hand to your neighbor or anyone who needs it. Your family members shouldn't be the only beneficiaries of your kindness.

Kindness doesn’t have to be extravagant.  Simple acts can touch people’s hearts and boosts your mood and self-esteem. It  can mean donating your time to serving your community in the best way you can or helping someone at the grocery store with their bags. You can also pay a genuine compliment a stranger or make a donation to a charity that is meaningful to you.

This is a contributed post.

4 comments

Jackie Harrison said...

Great tips positive thinking no matter the situation is a model mind to me.

Ivana Split said...

These are great tips.

Pilar said...

These are such good tips Rowena!

R's Rue said...

Great tips