Everyone wants to live and maintain a healthy life in different ways. They just put an effort into their looks, some only take care of their beautiful hair, some only focus on gaining or losing weight. We are living in the age of financial turmoil where the 62 richest people hold the same wealth as the 3.6 billion poorest people as per the Oxfam report. Everyone is worried about earning more and more in a never-ending cycle leading to depression and anxiety. Nobody is trying to have a healthy lifestyle when it comes to money and workload, especially the young adults. The generation is going further away trying to have luxurious lifestyles of big homes with swimming pools, bank balances, and cars.
All these things have had a profound effect on all aspects of our lives, be it school performance, work performance, relationships with family and friends, and participation in society. This is not only costing us mental peace but also money. Two of the most common forms of mental health illness, depression and anxiety, cost the global economy a loss of 1 trillion dollars each year.
Certainly, people do become health-conscious only through how to eat well and maintain a healthy heart. But a healthy heart doesn't mean a healthy life. The brain has billions of neurons & connections with the heart so that both can perform well. So, a brain in terms of mental health is imperatively important in everyone's life.
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects the way we think, feel, and act. It also helps to determine how we deal with stress, how we relate to others, and how we make choices. It is important at all stages of life, from childhood and adolescence to adulthood and old age. Throughout life, if you have mental health problems, then your thinking, feelings, and behavior are going to be affected.
So what can actually contribute to your mental health problems? They can be
Biological factors: - such as genetics or brain chemistry
Life experiences: - such as trauma
Family history of mental health problems
Or simply work pressure
A healthy mind is very important as it can help you
Deal with life's pressures
Be physically fit
Have a good relationship
Make tangible contributions to your community
Work profitably
See your full potential
By this time, you must be thinking where’s the solution? Here are some quick steps how to take care of yourself
Be active: Experts believe exercise releases chemicals in your brain that make you feel good. Regular exercise can boost your self-esteem and help you concentrate, sleep and feel better. It also keeps the brain and other vital organs healthy. Exercising doesn’t just mean doing sport or going to the gym. Walks in the park, housework or just walking up and down the stairs can also keep you active.
Eat well: There are strong links between what we eat and how we feel, for example, caffeine and sugar can have an immediate effect. The food that we eat, can also have a long-lasting effect on our mental health. Your brain needs a mix of nutrients to stay healthy and function well, just like the other organs in your body. A healthy balanced diet includes lots of different fruits and vegetables, dry fruits, dairy products, oily fish, and water just to quench your thirst(not in large amounts).
Keep in touch: Strong family ties and supportive friends can help you deal with the stresses of life. Friends and family can make you feel included and cared for. They can offer different views from whatever’s going on inside your head. They can help keep you active, keep you grounded and help you solve practical problems.
Take a break: A change of scene or a change of pace is good for your mental health. It could be a five-minute pause from cleaning your kitchen, a half-hour lunch break at work, or a weekend exploring somewhere new. Listen to your body. If you’re really tired, give yourself time to sleep. Without good sleep, our mental health suffers and our concentration goes downhill. Sometimes the world can wait.
Care for others: Caring for others is often an important part of keeping up relationships with people close to you. It can even bring you closer together. Why not share your skills more widely by volunteering for a local charity? Why not teach something to the children of your brothers, sisters, uncles, and aunts? Why not open our doors and send a meal to our neighbors. Helping out can make us feel needed and valued and that boosts our self-esteem.
Make peace with yourself by listening to yourself, make peace with your neighbors, brothers, and sisters, with your relatives, care for the animals nearby and you will find peace of mind within you.
BLOG BY: Saddaque Hasan
