My Guide to Mental Health and Well-being (Part 1)
My Guide to Mental Health and Well-being (Part 2)
(Part 3)
Make sure to keep up the exercise and physical activity throughout the week. Even doing this just twice a week can have substantial benefits on your mental health and happiness/wellbeing. This step is often neglected because people get lazy and want to spend their time watching Netflix instead etc.…. Go for a walk, work out, stretch, do yoga, play sports, any of these activities count as exercise, incorporate at least one into your routine. Working out regularly can have remarkable impacts on our sleep, memory, and just in general helps in reducing stress levels.
One of the reasons physical activity makes you feel better is because it is good for our health. This works wonders for us psychologically since we know spending time on this is going to improve our physique, and everyone wants to look and feel good.
Many times, we tend to be immobile and not active enough. This includes at work on computers, playing games, watching videos on our phones etc…. We really need to move a lot more than we do and our bodies will thank us for it later on in life.
Make sure to communicate with friends or loved ones every day for at least 10 or 15 minutes. Social interaction of any kind with human beings we love or appreciate can make a world of difference to our overall state of mind. One thing it does is it puts our brains at ease and shows us that there are people out there who care about us. It also gives you an opportunity to talk to someone and share feelings or express thoughts that you have been bottling up inside.
Keep yourself and your mind occupied whenever possible. Constant learning and doing things to keep active and productive can go a long way to keeping your mental focus sharp and healthy. For example, try solving riddles or puzzles and completing crosswords. These activities workout your brain muscles, which is always a good thing.
On that same note playing board games such as scrabble, monopoly, chess, and backgammon also exercise your brain and keeps your mind healthy.
Certainly, if you are someone like me who likes to help people with advice, that is also something beneficial you can do for your brain. This blog is meant to assist people and keep others informed about not only Toronto (the 6ix), but just life in general and how to live it to its fullest without any regrets. Supporting others can make you feel useful and in positive spirits mentally and emotionally etc…
Look at things from a positive point of view and keep this in mind when tough times arise. Not everything has to be negative and this includes stress. Make a list of goals and things you want to tackle for the day. This helps put things in perspective so you can take them on one step at a time, so as not to overwhelm yourself.
Avoid temporary fixes such as drugs and alcohol. These things can not only damage your mental wellbeing but your overall health as well. There are other less hazardous options to help you through hard times. Such as leaning on family and friends. Or in more severe cases seeking advice from the professionals who are trained to help you get through times of mental duress. Remember all feelings whether happy or sad are temporary you must be able to ride the wave, stay balanced and even through it all.
Laughter is one of the most powerful weapons we can use when trying to fight feelings of sadness, stress, or depression. Laughing, trying to have fun, and just being positive triggers good responses in our brain that can help calm the mind. Comedy activates the part of the brain that releases pleasure hormones. Thus, helping to keep you relaxed, boost the immune system, and just give you a sense of happiness and a good state of mind.
Be good to yourself, avoid self-criticism and putting yourself down too much. Spend time improving your mind and make sure to unplug from the rest of the world. Your time is so valuable whether that is learning new skills, working on a side gig, one of your hobbies or any other thing that you enjoy doing, do it! Do not put it off until you feel better, this activity will help cure whatever may be bothering you at the time.
Another big factor contributing to our mental health is who we choose to spend time around. These people can either impact us positively or negatively because everyone leaves a lasting impression whether it be good or bad. If you notice, the people who seem to have things put together in life are those who have a strong family or social unit/support. This is because when things do go wrong, they have people there to help get them through it and come out stronger than before. If you have no friends or family you can turn to, try and find ways to meet new people who can help you by joining classes or groups. For example fitness classes, support groups, Facebook friend’s groups, gym buddies, etc…. This can make a huge difference, just to know someone is there you can turn to if and when the time calls for it.
Disclaimer:
The contents of our 6ixhappening blog post, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on this blog (“Content”) are for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on 6ixhappening.com.
If you are in an emergency, in crisis or need someone to talk to, please visit https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/crisis-resources .