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A Healthy, Happy Mind in 3 Steps

Many people dismiss the notion that mental health is a serious concern, and it’s easy enough to see why. It’s a common misconception that your mind and body are separate things, but this isn’t the case. Your brain is an organ within your body, and it’s therefore subject to similar forces that can influence it for better or for worse. Maintaining your mental health is just as important, as just as involved, as taking care of your body. Here’s what you need to know.

By Damien JustusPublished 3 years ago 3 min read
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Nutrition

Your diet is the foundation of your overall well being, because the foods you consume contribute the resources that your body needs in order to function properly. Everyone has at least some idea of how nutrition affects your physical health, but it also has a profound impact on your mind, as well. For example, a zinc deficiency can contribute to depression, and so can vitamin D. Adequate nutrition can impact your mental well being in numerous ways, both directly and indirectly. Therefore you need to understand your body’s dietary needs and the contents of the foods you eat in order to meet those needs. Carbs are the energy source that your body prefers, and a lack of energy can put you in a worse mood. Failing to address this problem over time can cause your mental health to decline. You can also use supplements to make managing your diet a lot simpler. Vitamin D supplements can help with fatigue and depression, and the Thrive patch promotes energy and mental clarity.

Activity

The diet and exercise mentally doesn’t just apply to your bodily well being, either. While exercise is necessary for maintaining your muscle strength, it’s also crucial for keeping your brain healthy. The body wants to move and act, and an inactive lifestyle deprives the body and mind of the endorphins it needs to regulate your mood. Likewise, spending all day sitting in one place can give you a sense of aimlessness. Getting up on your feet and out of the house is crucial for maintaining your mental health, especially because of the psychological benefits of a change of pace and scenery. Staying on top of your fitness is crucial, but mental activity is also an important part of the equation. Your daily routine is simply that, the same thing every day. This can be harmful for your brain if you don’t get the mental stimulation you need in some way. Learning new things and improving a skill are the best ways to keep your brain active and healthy, so consider reading more often or starting a creative project to give your brain a much needed workout.

Self Care

Self care is a relatively recent concept, so it’s not always well understood. The principle of self care is that taking certain actions now can improve your mental health later or prevent your mental health from worsening. In some cases, this can be the justification for vices like junk food, but it’s much more applicable elsewhere. For example, someone with social anxiety might not want to call their doctor to schedule an appointment, but missing that appointment is ultimately worse for their mental health than simply making the call to begin with. On the other hand, self care can sometimes be delaying certain responsibilities in order to center yourself to prevent anxiety. By subjecting yourself to these responsibilities while you’re already anxious, you can potentially make your anxiety worse and trigger a panic attack. Waiting a moment and taking some deep breaths can be just what you need to save yourself from a worse outcome than taking a few minutes longer to tackle an important objective.

Matters of the mind have an air of mystery about them, and that’s because the brain is a complex organ that science still doesn’t completely understand. However, mental health professionals have more insight than you might think into the inner workings of your mind, and these tips can help you keep your head above water.

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