Mental health is one of the most important factors when it comes to our overall health. It is quite difficult to sustain a healthy, balanced, successful and happy life without prioritizing our mental health. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological and social well-being. It affects the way we think, the way we manage our feelings and the way we act on a daily basis. It also helps determine how we handle stress, how we relate to others, and how make decisions. Maintaining a positive mental health is the key to handling every aspect of your life.
Why is mental health crucial?
Mental health will help you:
- Be happy
- Cope with stress
- Increase productivity
- Reach your full potential
- Be physically healthy
- Maintain healthy relationships
We believe that it is not only important to care for mental health once you have experienced some kind of mental instability, but instead, to care for it as a way of preventing any future mental stressors. There are many natural and holistic practices you can add to your daily routine to promote a healthy mind.
Here are the practices I encourage you to do on a daily basis to maintain a healthy mind:
Meditate for at least 10 min every morning and/or night. Take this time to tune in with your deepest self, to connect with your breath and acknowledge what goes through your mind.
Practice gratitude every morning and night writing down everything you are grateful for. This is a great practice to add to your routine as it truly helps put everything into perspective and understand what truly matters.
Move your bodies for at least 30 min every day. It is not necessary to do super high-intensity training. I like to switch between pilates, yoga, peloton and go on daily fast-paced walks.
Get some fresh air in nature every day: being at-home in front of a computer screen all day is not healthy for neither our minds nor bodies. Make sure you schedule daily breaks to breath some fresh air and go for a short walk outdoors. Plus, getting daily sun exposure facilitates your daily intake of Vitamin D and releases happy hormones.
Limit your time on social media, mobile devices, electronics, computers... Take breaks from your screens and disconnect.
Eat high Omega 3 foods such as wild fish, flax, butternut squash, walnuts.. and focus on eating fiber and plant proteins.
Take magnesium glycinate, Vitamin B6 and B complex.
Avoid processed foods. Limit refined carbs and sugars.
Do not eat or drink too many stimulants such as caffeinated or processed drinks and foods.
Limit your alcohol intake as much as possible. I try to limit this to a maximum of two glasses of wine per week.
Say no to nicotine or any other drugs.
*Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. These are the methods my mom and I use to support our own mental health and to live a healthy and balanced life. If you have any medical concern, please consult with your doctor to get professional advice.
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