Mental well-being is of utmost importance to all, both young and old. Sometimes, in your busy lifestyle, you tend to neglect your mental health. This can have a detrimental effect on your overall health and well-being. Read on for 7 tips to maintain and improve your mental well-being.
Mental health conditions affect people of all countries in varying degrees. In Indonesia, 3.7% of the population suffer from depression, whereas this number is 18% among Singapore youth. In India, 10% of the population suffer from some or other mental conditions. The pandemic has also resulted in an increase in mental issues. Thus, maintaining overall mental well-being is of great importance. How do we maintain and improve our mental well-being? Find out 7 tips in this article.
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How To Maintain Mental Well-being?
1. Consume a balanced diet
The first requirement for a healthy mind is a healthy body. Thus, consuming a balanced diet with a lot of fruits, vegetables and lean proteins is of utmost importance. Drink plenty of water to keep you well hydrated. Stay away from junk food and aerated drinks that act as an instant stress buster.
To make meal times enjoyable, try to have meals with friends and family as much as possible. If you suffer from any type of eating disorder, try to address the issue by consulting a nutritionist or even a doctor.
2. Exercise regularly
Exercising regularly is very important to elevate your mood and keep you in good spirits. You can indulge in moderate to heavy exercise, depending on your overall health condition. Walking for a short distance or even climbing stairs are good forms of exercise. Exercise releases endorphins in your body that can elevate your mood.
3. Ensure proper sleep
Along with good food and exercise, proper sleep is also essential to maintaining your mental well-being. If you are a teenager, try to sleep for at least 8 hours. For people above 20 years, 7 hours of quality sleep is very important. Try to follow a set pattern of sleeping and waking up at approximately the same time every day. This ensures that you feel at your best. Also, you should try to reduce screen time, especially before going to bed, as the blue light emission from screens can affect the quality of sleep.
4. Socialise
Connecting with family and friends is highly essential to maintain your mental well-being. You should focus on the quality of the relationship and not the number of people with whom you are connected to. The people with whom you are socialising should be able to provide you support and help when required. This is more important than having a large number of friends and family members who might not care about your mental well-being.
If you cannot meet people in person and have a conversation, you can always talk to them over the phone or video call and chat with them. If you do not have friends or family close by, you can also rely on support groups like clubs and classes to improve your mental well-being.
5. Reduce stress
There are different ways you can reduce stress on a daily basis. Taking time out is one such way. Take a break from your daily routine and do things you like such as listening to music or visiting places. Deep breathing and relaxation also help to reduce stress to a great extent.
6. Practice mindfulness
Mindfulness is about being in the present. By practising mindfulness, you concentrate your attention on where you are right now. Listening to speeches on mindfulness and practising the same in your life helps maintain your mental wellbeing.
7. Bring small changes to life
Following the same routine day in and day out can create a comfort zone for you. But, at the same time, it can make things monotonous and affect your mental well-being. To avoid this, try to bring small changes to your regular routine. If you are used to walking the same route every day, take a different route for a change. Small things like this can make positive changes in your life.
Conclusion
You will be in a state of calm when you experience good mental well-being. But, if you are excessively stressed or anxious, or remain quiet and withdrawn, and get a feeling that you are depressed, it is time to consult a doctor or healthcare professional. Similarly, if you are excessively dependent on alcohol or drugs, or get emotional outbursts occasionally, it is also a sign that you need help. In such a situation, you should consult a doctor without delay. After examining your condition, the doctor will specify the treatment plan to follow. This can include the use of medications as well as therapy sessions to help bring your life back in control.
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