Eight Worst Habits for Your Mental Health

The world we live in today is far more complex than it used to be and I would partly blame social media for this. Where social media and the internet has helped us connect to each other, there are still too many people out there who exploit this platform to bring other people down. Apart from this, there are several other reasons including loss of a close one, financial troubles, unemployment and more that can all cause one to feel depressed.

The challenge here is to deal with such life-changing events gracefully. It starts with the realization that some things are out of your control and no matter how hard you try cannot be tamed. The second challenge is to make a choice either to try to get back a hold of your life or let it slip away into a never-ending pool of negativity that is all damaging for your mental health. Mental health is all about what you fuel your brain in terms of positive or negative thoughts. Mental health is directly linked to your thought process and the choice is whether to feed it with petty thoughts or positive or happy ones as is greatly reflects on how you will eventually lead a life. Did you know small things you do daily can have an impact on your mood instantly without you even knowing about it? Fortunately, we are here to help you embrace good habits and turn around the bad ones.

Your body posture when you walk or sit

Yes, even the way you walk have a major impact on your mental health and feelings as a whole. Research has shown that people who walk with bent shoulders, slouched tummy and no arm movement can have the worst of mood swings. The way you walk can make your day from good to bad, hence you should walk with tight uplifted shoulders, tummy in and a straight posture. This will help you get a more positive outlook for the rest of your day and make you feel happier.

You spend more time capturing the moment than enjoying it.

Are you one of those people who are obsessed with taking pictures all the time? Please stop. When out with friends or any hangout the only thing you look forward to is taking pictures then you are missing out on life and actual connections. Instead of trying to enjoy their company and talk about real feelings that time is replaced by taking pictures instead which is not a healthy approach for your mind. Use these hangouts to clear out your mind and talk with your friends, this can be far more refreshing and positive and make you feel way better.

Happy thoughts

If you find yourself focusing on the negatives more this is for you. Negative thinking is just one way to bring yourself down and what’s ironic is doing it to yourself. The trick here is to change them into positive thoughts. Even when you feel as if everything is your life is going wrong but there would be one tiny thing that is going right and you grasp on it instead. Focus on more positivity and in turn, it will help you start feeling more positive and happier.

Surrounded by people or relationships that bring you down

People you keep around you can have an affect on you is an understatement. The social circle you surround yourself with can have major impact on your life and mental health as a whole. If you are in a toxic relationship or surrounded by toxic people it will drain you, as hard as it may seem, get rid of them immediately. If you are constantly put down by your friends or partner, not appreciated and encouraged enough you know what to do. Tip is to surround yourself with people who help bring out the best of you and make you happy which is healthy for your brain.

You don’t exercise enough or at all

Exercise is just as important mentally as it is physically and this cannot be stressed more. Exercise can have a major impact on your mental well-being in a number of ways. It helps you clear out your mind and have a more positive outlook on life by exerting out all negative thoughts while working out. Furthermore, it reduces your chances of depression by 19% according to research and helps you keep active and positive.

Spend time with yourself

If you are married, it is harder to find time for yourself because you are always stuck somewhere. Take ten minutes out daily for yourself and spend that by doing what you like as this will help you clear up your mind and reduce anxiety.

You take life too seriously

If you trip or fall and instead of shrugging it off you feel embarrassed to even walk, does this sound familiar? If yes then it’s time you find ways to laugh it off. Laughter has several positive benefits for your mental health and has proven to bring a happier impact on your life as a whole.

You don’t sleep enough

Not having enough sleep is another reason that can have a negative effect on your mental health because then you are not giving yourself enough of rest to calm down and wash out the worries. This is why it is recommended to try having 8 hours of sleep in a day.