How to take care of your mental health in 2019!
Health is not just what we are eating. It’s also about what we’re thinking and saying. Don’t be afraid to put your mental health first.
It’s high time that we start giving our mental health as much importance as we give to our physical health. Mental health includes one’s overall psychological well-being, such as the way one feels about herself/himself and others as well as her/his ability to manage their own feelings and deal with daily hassles.
Life is one big crazy roller coaster ride. It is full of ups and downs, happiness and sadness, success and failures. It depends on our attitude on how do we take in or react to what life throws at us. There is always a reason for everything that happens to us. Even if we don’t seem to understand that reason at the present moment when things are happening to us, things that are contrary to our expectations, nevertheless sooner or later, we may find it and we realize that whatever happened, it happened for our best. It is very important to have a positive mindset while going through a rough phase and have faith in yourself and in the doings of the Universe. The key is to remain hopeful and optimistic throughout.
We attract what we radiate. So make sure that you as an individual are filled with kindness and gratitude, and radiate positive vibes. Gratitude and kindness are the antidotes for sadness, anger and frustration. Keeping a gratitude journal for all the little and big things that you are grateful for, is a great way for maintaining your positive mental health.
New year paves way for new beginnings, hopes, dreams and aspirations. And in order to start afresh, with a clean slate, it is equally important to make peace with your past and let go of your past failed relationships, bad experiences, disappointments and failures, and cut loose anyone who brings toxicity to your life rather than contributing to your growth. While it may seem somewhat harsh or insensitive to break ties, it is perfectly fine, and in fact, very healthy to cut people off, the “energy suckers”, who rather than filling our cups, keep drinking from them till they are empty.
Surround yourself with people who genuinely love you, care for you, appreciate you, bring you peace and pour more positivity into your cup. Building good relationships with others contribute in enhancing one’s sense of well-being. With all the time we spend on social media or browsing the Internet, it’s essential to turn to real-life interactions for the sake of your mental health.
Our bodies and our minds are connected. When you take care of your body, you also take care of your mind. For that, eat well, exercise, meditate and get enough sleep. Exercise has been shown to increase well-being, reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, relieve stress and improve memory. Relaxation techniques such as yoga, mindfulness meditation, deep breathing, or progressive muscle relaxation have been proved to be helpful in reducing stress and bring your mind and body back into a state of balance.
Practice healthy thinking. Travel, take short breaks and make a to-do list of all the things that make you happy or that you have been planning to do since a long time, and work to accomplish it. Connect with others, help others and don’t hesitate to seek help when you need it.
Start treating yourself like someone you loved.
Indulge in positive self-talk. Tell yourself, “I am enough. I am who I’ve been looking for.” That’s because the most important relationship that’s there is the one that you have with yourself. Self acceptance, self love, self awareness and self care are the necessary ingredients that would make you a happy and complete individual. Accept who you are; work on your weaknesses and enhance your strengths. Positive self esteem boosts self confidence to learn new skills and cope under difficult circumstances of life.
Take life day by day and be grateful for the little things. Engage in activities that provide meaning and purpose to your life and make you feel productive. Appreciate what you have, before it turns into what you had. Don’t get caught up in what you can’t control. Focus on the positive. Life is too short to argue and be upset over trivial things. Count your blessings. Love your family and friends who have been there for you. Smile more often and make the most of each day.
Switch your mentality from “I’m broken and helpless” to “I’m growing and healing” and watch how fast your life changes, for the better.
Marcus Aurelius has rightly said,
“It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.”
