We are aware of the habits that are bad for our physical health, but are we aware of the habits that affect our mental health? Habits that we developed over the years through our nature and nurture experiences become very strong and difficult to change. However, it is not impossible. Here are a few habits that need to be changed to have a healthy mind.
Eating Habits
Food plays a major role in the overall well-being of the mind and body. It is essential to be mindful of the quality and quantity of food that is consumed every day. It has become normal for people to eat more in the name of comfort food or less if they are not in the mood to eat during stressful situations. In distress and despair, you have to take the conscious step to consume the nutritious food to be healthy. Eating after the sunrise and before the sunset has many physical and mental health benefits.
Lack of exercise
Studies have shown that exercise is a natural mood enhancer. In the busy rat race world, many people forget to engage in physical activities. Taking some time out to exercise can help you to be more confident, distract your mind from stress and worries, and enhance your mental and physical health.
Perfectionism
It is healthy to strive for excellence. It is important to give your best in anything you do to achieve the goal, but there are times we will make mistakes, things will not go as planned, disappointments, and failures. Being a perfectionist is not a flaw, but setting unrealistic goals for yourself, taunting oneself for making mistakes, not being able to accept the failures, and stressing over little things are. All of these can affect your mental health and prevent you from going ahead and letting the past go.
Guilt
Guilt stems from childhood; it would have started as a simple thing and, over the years, become a complex matter. The habit of guilt includes accepting the responsibility of creating a problem, magnifying a problem, perceiving yourself as a bad person for making minor mistakes, and refusing to forgive oneself. You need to understand that mistakes and problems are inevitable in life, so we must accept the reality of life and not be hard on ourselves. Learn to forgive yourself.
Ruminating about the past and negative situations in life
It is not uncommon for our brains to remind us about negative events, but if we keep ruminating, it will significantly affect our mind and mood. Take conscious efforts to distract yourself when you are reminded of the negative events.
Constantly using social media and gadgets
Many people who use social media have reported a feeling of inadequacy. Constant use of social media and gadgets can cause addiction. Compulsively checking your phone in the fear of missing out. All of these can affect your mental health and make an individual less productive. Engage in alternate activities and use the phone when needed or you can set a time to use your phone and social media.
Regret
Just as guilt regret is an another emotional state which everyone has in life for not taking a job or marrying someone, getting a loan. All of us have some regrets in life, but these regrets can become dangerous for mental health when they become lifelong habit of ruminating. A habit of regret can lead to depression, sleep disorders, distorted cognition, and anxiety disorders.
Lack of sleep
The quality of sleep is the primary source of mental health. Sleep helps your brain and body recover from exhaustion and damage. Sleeping for less time can affect your mind, mood, and body, which can affect your other areas of life. Research studies have shown that people with mental health issues tend to have sleep problems.
Burying your feelings
Many of us take pride in putting on a fake smile to cover up the actual emotion that we are experiencing. People suppress their anger for a long time, which can affect their mental health. Neglecting your emotions is not a healthy way to deal with the situation. Bottling your emotions is more like a ticking time bomb that can burst at any time with a small trigger. It is important for you to be assertive and express your emotions in a healthy way. Expressing doesn’t necessarily mean yelling at someone and making a big scene; at the same time, you don’t have to bite your tongue.
Procrastinating
Due to a lack of motivation, many of us struggle with procrastination. To escape from your anxiety or the situation, we engage in less important activities, which makes things even worse. Procrastination can give you temporary relief, but more pressure to worry about your work can lead to distress. Engage in activities that keep you motivated to do the important work that needs to be done. Be mindful of your procrastination so that you can take the necessary steps to overcome it.
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