By Dr.Manvir Bhatia & Ananya, 24th July 2023
Self Care – The Path to Mental Health
Mental health is a state of well-being of the mind that gives us the strength to realise our abilities, cope with difficult situations in life and work efficiently, learn well and contribute positively to our community. The journey to good mental health starts with self-care.
This International Self-care Day we urge you to embark upon the feeling of :
“I AM VERY IMPORTANT”
and work diligently towards your mental health.
Good mental health demands resilience. One needs to work on it regularly, to achieve a level of mental stability which helps us fight all adversities and adapt to the toughest situations life throws at us. However, mental health starts with self-care. Here we are with a few self-care tips that can immensely boost your mental health:
- Regular exercise:
A healthy mind resides in a healthy body. Exercise improves our overall fitness. It also leads to the release of feel-good chemicals that lifts up our mood, distract us from a negative thought loop and prevent the onset of various mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, etc. However, it should be noted that it is the most effective only when practised on a regular basis. Exercising every day for at least 30 minutes is a must. Going for any form of sport such as football, basketball, etc. is also a good way to stay fit.
2. Healthy diet:
We should make sure to include healthy fats, lean proteins, vitamins, fibres, minerals and complex carbohydrates in our diet. It is best to steer away from processed and junk food. One should drink enough water every day and limit the intake of caffeine and carbonated drinks. Try to be mindful of where and what you are eating. For example, avoid eating while watching television as it often leads to overeating.
3. Relaxing activities:
Meditation, yoga and breathing exercises are great ways to release mental stress. These activities calm us down and are great stress busters. Journaling regularly is also a great way to declutter your mind and be at peace.
4. Build a positive approach:
A positive outlook towards all situations in life allows one to manage stress and anxiety very effectively. It can significantly decrease depression, pain and distress. It helps one to stay happier and increases resistance to diseases.
5. Adequate work-life balance:
Work is very important but it is an absolute must to balance it with your social and personal life. One needs to spend time with friends, families, travel etc. Pursuing a hobby and learning something new are good ways to strengthen mental health.
6. Set your priorities right:
Humans are ambitious and have a lot of dreams and aspirations in life. However, we need to understand that everything needs time and consistent effort. Thus, it is important that we plan things well in time, prioritise our goals and work diligently to achieve them.
Just like our body, the mind needs regular exercise to stay healthy. Solving puzzles, sudoku, playing cards, and learning a new language or a musical instrument are ways to keep the mind active.
7. Stay mentally active:
Just like our body, the mind needs regular exercise to stay healthy. Solving puzzles, sudoku, playing cards, learning a new language or a musical instrument are ways to keep the mind active
8. Spend time with nature:
Nature is the best healer. It is good to spend some time with nature every day. It helps us relax, lifts up our mood and cuts out a lot of unnecessary clutter. Going out for nature trails, trekking, tree plantation and taking up gardening as a hobby are some ways to do the same.
9. Practise gratitude:
Being thankful for all you have allows you to stay peaceful. It gives us a sense of fulfilment. You will slowly learn to value all you have and will not compare yourself to others. This brings in a lot of stability and confidence.
10. Get enough sleep:
Sleep is crucial to mental health. It nourishes our body and mind. It makes us emotionally stable thereby improving our decision-making power, and attention. Not only this, it also lowers the chances of various psychological and neurological disorders.
As responsible human beings, let’s first take good care of ourselves and also encourage people around us to do the same. In the long run, all of us will stand out as mentally strong and healthy individuals who can make this world a better place to live in.
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