The way that you talk to yourself and how you think is the most important aspect in one’s life. The overall quality of your life depends greatly on how you think. People live and become what they are because of their thoughts. Since childhood you’ve subconsciously programmed yourself to think a certain way through your experiences. If you perceive that you will be great in life, then you will be, in the same manner that If you believe you’ll fail, then you will. In order to maintain mental wellness you have to learn how to think, cast down negative thoughts and renew your thinking with good positive thoughts. The people that are mentally and emotionally healthy can handle the challenges that life may bring better than the one’s who aren’t. They are better equipped in dealing with setbacks and benefit greater in all aspects of their lives. Your mental and emotional intelligence affects your overall psychological well-being and inner strength. Possessing good mental health doesn’t mean that you will never go through difficult times or that you won’t ever have to experience emotional issues such as depression and anxiety. It just indicates that you will deal with these aspects that normal life brings, better than someone who is mentally and emotionally unstable. The way that you think, will help you to avoid getting stuck in negative states of mind and will help you stay focused when dealing with troublesome situations that life brings.
Similarly to the ways that you keep physically healthy there are things you can do to maintain mental wellness. Below you’ll find some things you can do to keep your mind healthy and emotionally stable.
Nutrition and Emotional, Mental Wellness
The way that we eat effects our feelings and manner of thinking. There has been many studies demonstrating the relationships between food and moods in people. They affirm that we should be consuming and choosing the best foods to eat rich in nutrients critical for the proper functioning of the brain such as fruits, whole grains, vegetables and seafood further optimizing good mental health. Studies show that multivitamins, minerals, omega fatty acids and other dietary supplements benefit in regulating stress, anxiety and depression. Eating healthy benefits coping with depression, managing stress, anxiety but affects many other moods, behaviors and brain functions as well. The human brain demands lots of nutrients, energy and oxygen (drinking plenty of water) in order for it to function optimally. Deficiencies of vitamins and minerals can damage nerves in the brain, impairing brain functions and causing a variety of emotional and mental health issues such as memory loss or problem solving abilities. Nutritional deficiencies in the brain are caused by poor diet and detrimental lifestyles as with substance abuse problems like with alcoholism, depriving the brain of essential nutritional requirements for good mental functioning. People with poor nutritional diets usually suffer from mental illnesses or emotional disorders. Eating properly can help the way you feel and think.
Exercise the Mind for Good Mental Health
In the same way people have learned that exercising and physical fitness helps your body, we are realizing and understanding that incorporating our brains into these workout regimens is as important in maintaining a healthy mind. Similar to the way that you exercise to tone up and build your body, science and people are finding that it also applies to the training of your brain. It is important to stimulate your mind and challenge it by exercising the basic functions of your brain to stay mentally sharp and healthy as you age. The way that you will lose your body and muscle functions if you don’t use them, you’re capable of losing your brain’s ability to strengthen and build new connections as you get older. Keeping yourself mentally active is an important way to develop and maintain a stronger healthier brain.
There are things that you can do throughout your daily routine to stimulate the mind and train the brain which most of us can apply. You can do things like taking 15 mins of your day to read a book, newspaper or magazine. Schedule a few minutes several times a week to read something. Set your internet browser to the home page of a newspaper section that interests you. This way every time you surf the web you’ll be more inclined to read an article, current events or the news. Read through them often. Read the dictionary and learn a new word every other day or once a week. You’ll find that there are many options when it comes to reading materials.
Utilize thought processes in ways like performing thinking games like sudoko, chess or other board games. Try solving crossword puzzles or playing games that involve answering questions. These are good brain exercises. You can stimulate your mind also by learning to play an instrument such as the guitar. You’ll find numerous online sources which offer guitar lessons basically for free. Take up drawing or painting. Many people have the ability to draw or paint since childhood yet they don’t ever practice or appreciate their capabilities. Start drawing again. Buy some pencils and drawing paper and take a few minutes a week to sketch and draw some. Take some time in your day or schedule sometime throughout your week, to improve brain health by exercising the mind through hobbies and learning. Keeping yourself mentally active through reading, puzzles, games, art, musical instruments, meditation and others, helping your mind stay sharp as you get older. These strategies are key in exercising the mind for mental wellness.
Exercise the Body For Good Mental Health
Exercising helps the brain and mind in multiple ways and is an important part of sustaining good mental health. Physical fitness increases the oxygen levels absorbed by the brain through blood flow aiding and nourishing cells. Exercise helps boost hormones that nourish brain growth yet decreases the use of harmful hormones such as the ones’ related with stress and anxiety. It stimulates brain growth by creating new connections but also improves brain functions that protect damaged cells from further injury. Exercising or playing sports enhances our attention and concentration skills which helps memory and processing functions. Activities like playing basketball or swimming provides brain boosts when you challenge your brain and have to think about shooting from the 3 point line or when performing complicated swimming techniques such as the back stroke. It assists the growth of new brain cells thus increasing brain growth. In addition to these benefits, exercise prepares you for the mental challenges your day may bring by stimulating positive brain activity, reducing negative mental stresses, making you happier and smarter. Exercise is not only good for your body and heart but also for your brain which will help you live a better life.
So as you’ve read above, there are 3 main fundamental principles to maintaining good mental health and they involve, eating a nutritionally balanced diet to feed the brain, exercising the mind by stimulating it with puzzles, games, trivia, books and keeping physically active by engaging in exercise and sports related activities regularly. By following these 3 key fundamental strategies you’ll strengthen your mind and you’ll live a happier healthier balanced life.