What is mental health and wellbeing? These terms have been coined in every second article, post and news headline that we often glaze over it without giving it a second thought of what it represents. Essentially your mental wellbeing is your current outlook in life. How are you dealing with the stresses that are in your life and the emotions that come attached to it? Confidence and positive self-esteem are just some selected outcomes that good mental health can offer. In extension this can relate to other aspects of your life such as more meaningful relationships through being more understanding of others, fulfilling a more productive life, feeling more in tune with the world around you and being open to change in times of uncertainty. So, what is holding you back? What can you do to improve your mental wellbeing?
The technological advancements that we have seen during the last couple of decades has been nothing short of amazing. Who would have thought that we could have an instant connection to the other side of the world if we wanted to? However, the detrimental effects that comes with this rapid progression must be examined. We live in a world where the number of notifications that one receives is celebrated. With this we are constantly flooded with new information. The worst thing for our mental wellbeing is having a vague understanding what to do next and ultimately what direction in life we want to take. But how are we expected to think clearly with all the noise that is cluttering our judgement telling us what to do and how to act?
A simple solution to this kafuffle is take time to yourself and process whatever it is that is going on in your life. Take a social media fast. What is it doing for you? Are you simply consuming? Is it necessary? Turn your phone on airplane mode especially when we go to sleep. When waking up we want to go at our own pace and do all the basic life administration tasks. Why wake up to a phone full of notifications? We will most likely be frazzled and start the day being reactive as oppose to being in control.
Exercise is another path to good mental health. What exercise does is it shows us what we are physically and mentally capable of which will instil an increased level of self-confidence. Furthermore, it releases neurotransmitters such as endorphins and serotonin which are both mood enhancers reducing stress and symptoms to depression and anxiety. Don't have time? No matter what life throws at us, we will always be control of how to use out time. Ask yourself, how do I make time?
Feelings of anguish and acts of worrying also heavily affect one's mental state. Too often we get bogged down by something negative that happened to us or too focused on what another person has that we don't. Having negative feelings towards another person? Is the other person giving the same amount of mental effort to 'disliking' you? If no, then you're just wasting time and hurting yourself. Start focussing on what is going right in YOUR life and the small positives that you get to enjoy. Start taking note of what went well during your day and how did it happen. That is when we start to see how much we do have.
These are just some strategies to implement towards a better view of both yourself and your life. Sometimes we just must take a step back, slow things down and understand what is that we want out of life. Start utilising some of these techniques slowly and it will work wonders. Always remember that every day is a new life for a wise man.
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