Mental health is the talk of the town today. School and college students, teachers, office workers, housewives, businessmen, all are realizing the importance of mental health in their life. People are taking what we now call “mental health breaks” to prioritize their peace of mind. In that case, mental health professionals have hard and encouraging work to do.
In this article, we try to summarize some of the things anyone can do to live a life of positive mental health.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says this about mental health: “Mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well, and work well, and contribute to your community. Mental health is a basic human right.”
But the question is how can we live with positive mental health? Here are some things to do to maintain positive mental health.
- be in good physical health
Physical health is a key component that contributes to positive mental health. An optimal body leads to an optimal mind. The following can be done to ensure positive mental health.
➢ Eat nutritious meals
➢ Avoid smoking and drinking
➢ Drink plenty of water
➢ Exercise
➢ Get enough sleep
- Meditation
Meditation is a mind and body practice where you learn to focus on attention and awareness. It is an advanced way of practicing mindfulness. There are various types of meditation that one can do. The most common involve focusing on your breath or a specific object.
Today, there are multiple mobile apps that can guide you on your meditation journey. Be sure to use those online resources.
- practicing gratitude
We have many difficulties to face in life. But no matter how many and how intense these problems are, there are always things to be thankful for.
Gratitude means being thankful for the good things in your life. We can be thankful for both the little things and the big things. Gratitude is the training of the positive muscles of the brain. We can practice this by writing in a journal or being mindful of the good things in life from time to time.
- Develop healthy coping mechanisms
Coping mechanisms are ways of dealing with stressful situations in our lives. There are healthy and unhealthy coping mechanisms. Unhealthy coping mechanisms include escapist habits like smoking, drinking, drug use, etc. These habits also have a negative effect on our mental health and our relationships. On the other hand, we can adopt positive coping mechanisms like meditation, talking with friends and family, going on a trip, or journaling, which are much better ways to manage our daily and long-term stress.
- Develop meaningful relationships
Human beings are social creatures and it is important to have strong and healthy relationships with others. Research shows that the support we receive from relationships can lower the risks of cognitive decline, depression, and anxiety. Being social animals, we need to connect with other people in positive ways and form meaningful relationships with them. It saves us from being alone in our vulnerable times and times of need. It also saves us from being susceptible to many forms of mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, etc.
It becomes imperative that we maintain healthy, positive and lasting mental health in today’s world. We hope this article has been useful to you!
