Mental Health And Fitness
‘A wise mind is a healthy mind'.
Strange how we grow up reading and listening to advices and observations such as these, but then somewhere down the road the distinct rules that were our guide become blurry. We simply run out of time for ourselves, life becomes hectic, economic depressions set and we try to make sense out of an irrational world. But then one day, we wake up with a chest pain, or dizziness and the doctor informs us that the obesity is beginning to act up. Or all of a sudden, we just land a great job, finish some big project and have a total breakdown, tears and all. The point is, when we neglect life, life neglects us. And that's why, with complete disregard to that ratty inner voice that tells you you're being selfish, you HAVE to invest in your health and well being.
Coming to mental health, there's a lot you can do to help your mental health and sadly a lot that you can unknowingly do to damage it. Apart from eating habits, lifestyle habits are also factors that determine an individual's mental health. Last but not least, environmental factors play their role to the fullest. In the current financial crises, no one would really blame you for being upset. But no health expert would advise you to slum in the darkness either. The business cycle will have its ups and downs but health once compromised is difficult to rebuild. Sure you can lose weight and all, but stressing yourself out or taking a negative approach to life will not only affect you, it will affect those around you, dependant on you for emotional support. Here are a few things you can do to help yourself stay mentally healthy;
1. Meditation: take a few hours out of every day to calmly sit and reflect. Don't think of all the negatives in life, think of all the ways you're lucky, all the abilities and gifts that you have. Devoting 15-20 minutes should suffice, but take longer if you think it will help. Pick a quite spot either in your house or some favorite seclusion point you've picked out for yourself. You'll see how these few moments actually end up making you a calmer, more in control you.
2. Lay Off Junk Food: this may seem redundant, but we all know it's called junk food for a reason. When we eat it, we know we are not valuing our health enough to abstain. Apart from ruining our physical health, this tarnished our mental health, because we gradually start to lower our self-value. Make the choice for yourself to be valued and eat only what's healthy.
3. Healthy Eating Habits: very close to recommendation 2 up there, you should start eating healthy. This means getting up in the morning early enough to have breakfast yourself. Don't just rush out the door empty stomach and spend the early part of the day with lions roaring inside you. A healthy breakfast will not only save you from overeating and gaining weight, you'll also feel better. In the same manner, focus on healthy hygienic food. Put more greens on your menu, more water and fresh juices in your assortment of drinks.
4. Exercise: take up some form of light exercise, preferably the kind that gets you out the door. Something along the lines of a 30 minute activity that can burn some calories too will be great. Especially if you have a desk job. Going out and putting your muscles to work will give your mind a healthy self image that you're an active and able person.