HOW TO IMPROVE OUR MENTAL HEALTH?

In order to lead a fulfilling life it is important that we practice certain activities that can help us improve our overall mental health. A healthy mind can help us achieve our life goals and sustain social, occupational and interpersonal relationships. Here are few tips for managing our mental health:

• Releasing our emotions: emotional expression and ventilation can help us take out our feelings of happiness, excitement, joy, anger, sadness etc. when we are able to take these out we are able to reconnect with ourselves more. By letting out emotions of sadness to a friend we can feel relaxed and light; this will contribute to a healthy mind and give space to other thoughts. Similarly when we express emotion of anger in a healthy manner we protect ourselves from having it as a prolonged mood state.

• Developing a self concept: Self concept refers to an individual’s belief about himself, self esteem and understanding of his basic characteristics. This is directly linked with emotional well being; a person with low self esteem can have emotional disturbances leading to a compromised mental health.

• Having a purpose in life: Having a purpose in life keeps us motivated and drawn towards achieving it. This is very subjective in nature; everyone can have a different view on it. Purpose can be a long term and existential in nature and it can also be short term life aims and aspirations. The common factor being, the will to achieve it, giving us a target. This enhances our mental health as well as capacity.

• Indulging in hobbies: Surely we all can recollect writing essays on “My hobbies” during school years. I wonder how many of us actually indulge in our hobbies after entering into this demanding world. Hobby can be any interesting activity that one chooses to do in free time for gaining pleasure and feeling relaxed. It is always encouraged that people should actually take out time for it. Hobbies have the power to connect us to our own true self and to reunite with our childhood; also it is completely fine to develop a new hobby at any age if someone want to.

• Practicing relaxation: Our body needs restoration for kick starting a day or retiring from the day. Relaxation helps us to release stress, lower our heart rate and blood pressure and promotes a balance between or mind and body. There are many different kinds of scientific relaxation methods like Meditation, Yoga, and Progressive muscle relaxation to name a few. For a person who wants to start it for the first time can initiate it with deep breathing exercises.

• Being active and Adequate sleep: It is very important to have a routine which includes our active participation in required tasks. This includes taking out time to exercise, or doing brain games along with active routine after formal retirement from job. Apart from being active, sleeping adequately is also crucial. It is a physiological need which shouldn’t be compromised. 7 to 9 hours of sleep is required for a healthy adult (it may vary from person to person) and young individuals may require even more. It is also important that we get our sleep undisturbed at a stretch. It is seen these days, due to increased screen time and other commitments people don’t get enough sleep to restore the brain’s functioning and fueling our bodies. A good sleep is a sign of healthy physical and mental health.

• Balanced diet: To enhance our mental health it is important that we eat a balanced diet which has all the required nutrition for our growth and sustenance. There have been various studies depicting the role of diet and mental health. It can impact directly and it also can affect our physical health which in turn can increase our stress levels.

• Having a social support system: Having a social support system not only helps us in having a good quality of life but also acts as a shield in crisis. This support system can include friends, relatives, family and all other with whom you can be just your own self and enjoy. Taking out time for socializing with our people can actually improve our mental health. 

• Taking a break: Yes, we can also take a break from our expected routines without being sick but to avoid burnout and exhaustion at physical and mental level. Break can simply be staying at home, watching our favorite show and sipping coffee, and it can also be taking a solo or group vacation with loved ones. Taking a break helps us to restart in a better way.

• Seeking professional help: There can be situations where it becomes overwhelming to handle our own thoughts and feelings. These are the times when we are unable to snap out of it like all other times. It is completely fine to seek a professional help in such circumstances, the professionals can provide you with support and techniques which you would need to improve mental health.