Have you ever noticed how many “fitness trackers” there are on the market? These neat little devices you wear on your wrist or finger can track everything from your heartbeat to steps in a day, to how well you sleep. While it’s obviously true that one’s physical health is important, it’s also important to take care of one’s mental health and well-being.
Taking Care Of Your Mental Health & Wellbeing
We’ve all had bad days where we feel “off.” For some of us, those days might be isolated and rare. For others, they may be quite regular. What we can all do to improve our overall mental health and well-being is to understand and commit to the non-negotiable practices and habits that will help us live better, build resilience and flourish.
Take Care of Your Social Needs
It’s important to remember that at our core all humans are social by nature. As such daily interactions with others via phone, video call, text, or even better in person are extremely important. These interactions allow us to feel more connected to others. More importantly, they allow us to feel less alone. Even if it’s only a few minutes of casual conversation. Total isolation has been proven to have negative effects on our mental health.
Get Into A Positive Sleep Routine
Without a doubt, you have had experiences where a bad night of sleep resulted in you not having a good day. The importance of a good night’s sleep can’t be overstated. It has been long recommended that we get at least 7 hours of sleep per night. Equally important though is having a routine that goes along with that. This includes setting a consistent bedtime and sticking to it as much as possible, establishing a wind-down routine (e.g. reading, journalling, meditation), and keeping devices out of your bedroom.
Be Willing To Reach Out For Help
We all need help at one point or another. Chances are when you don’t feel physically well, you’ll consult a physician in hopes of feeling better. The need to take care of our mental health and well-being is just as valid as the need to take care of our physical health. So it’s important to remember that if you feel you need help, reach out to your family physician, a therapist, or a counsellor for support and treatment.
Be Sure To Exercise
It’s good practice to exercise at least three days a week. This could be something as simple as taking a walk around the block or lifting weights at your local gym. Exercise is proven to be tied to r mental health and well-being because it releases endorphins that make us feel good. If you can, try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise three to five days per week.
Engage Your Mind
Exercising your mind and giving yourself purpose outside of your regular responsibilities plays a role in your overall well-being. Take time to reflect on an activity that you’d enjoy doing and that would provide a healthy break from day-to-day life. For example, consider playing an instrument, painting, doing creative writing, or learning a new language. So if there is a hobby you’ve been meaning to pick up, a language you’ve always wanted to learn, or a book you’ve always wanted to write, now is always the time to start.
For more information on how we can help, chat with our iHealthOX Care Team.
Sources:
https://psychologistdc.org/dr-turers-non-negotiables-for-happiness-balance/
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