As we grow, we incorporate habits to improve our mental health and well-being. However, along with habits that enhance it, we also incorporate those that can damage our mental and even brain health. While habits can be easy to pick up, they can be hard to break.
Habits are very likely to damage the brain in some way. That’s crucial, since diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, which are caused by cognitive loss, can worsen if brain tissue is damaged. Consequently, becoming aware of some of these behaviors can help reduce the risk of developing brain decline at an early age and improve mental health.
Habits to unlearn for better mental health
“Bad habits are our enemies because they prevent us from being the person we want to be.” —Joyce Meyer.
One of the most important skills that can make or break mental health is unlearning. We are bombarded with so much information that it becomes a challenge to understand it all. Learning to unlearn habits can also help to relearn them.
Unlearning does not mean forgetting something completely; rather, it means learning to select from a variety of information sources. here are five habits that can prevent you from learning new things and could harm your mental health:
1) Isolate yourself
In moments of distress, we often run away from loved ones and try to isolate ourselves. It can be easy to distance yourself from other people and from reality when you’re feeling unhappy or in a negative mood.
However, doing so often has a negative effect, making us feel even more isolated and depressed. However, social isolation can be due to factors other than unhappiness. Other factors include physical limitationsemotional distress, social anxiety and depression.
While spending some time alone periodically is beneficial as a form of self-care that allows you to recharge, spending too much time alone can be detrimental to your mental health. Loneliness has been found to often cause problems such as increased substance addiction, cognitive decline, lack of sleep, and early death.
2) Procrastination
When necessary, you are fully authorized to postpone your activities. However, you don’t want to be a serial procrastinator. Delaying what needs to happen can affect mental health. It clogs your schedule and creates uncertainty. You cannot achieve success in life if you procrastinate.
Try to finish tasks as they arise, since no one will carry them out on your behalf. Get rid of delay although it is never simple. Do everything possible to reduce it and stop putting off what cannot be avoided. You need to stop putting off taking action to stop your procrastination. You can easily overcome that if you put in a little effort.
3) Fear of mistakes
Fearing mistakes is a habit that can harm mental health. They stem from a core belief that one must be ‘perfect’.
You must recognize mistakes when they occur. Try not to criticize yourself for things you can’t change. Worry less about achievements, as failures inevitably happen. What makes the difference is how you respond.
For example, even though you have been careful in choosing your investment options, you can still lose money. You can make a decision that impacts your business, but no matter what, take something positive out of it. You will be able to make wiser decisions in the future by learning from your failures.
4) Setting Unclear Boundaries
Letting others push our limits can be detrimental to mental health. Most people need to develop stronger, healthier boundaries. Developing the ability to say no in a courteous and clean manner is a critical foundational leadership skill. Learning to say no also means saying yes to yourself, which is an ‘aha!’ time for many
Setting limits is also essential for the mental health of a company. Organizations that are dysfunctional often have loose and blurred boundaries. Clarity, safety, and order come from learning to set healthy boundaries and communicating them in a kind and compassionate way. A strong leader lays out a concrete plan for everyone to follow in order to position the entire team for success.
5) Neglecting Physical Health
Their physical and mental health they are intimately connected to each other. Having problems with one can eventually have an impact on the other.
Neglecting physical health is not a good idea for that reason. For example, there is a connection between mental health problems like acute stress, depression, and physical illnesses like psoriasis.
Additionally, not exercising, eating a large amount of unhealthy food, and gaining weight can all contribute to symptoms including fatigue, insomnia, and weight gain.
Put off
Be kind to yourself if it takes longer than expected unlearn a habit, since it can be as difficult as learning one. There will be ups and downs, but in the end, if you are able to recognize them, you are already on the path to improving your mental health.
Janvi Kapur is a counselor with a master’s degree in applied psychology with a specialization in clinical psychology.
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