Top recommended ways to enhance mental health

Given how stressful the current times have become due to the after-effects of pandemic and adverse effects of improper work-life balance, the issue of mental health has become very much common among all social circles.

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The aspect of mental health is as important as that of physical health, and so, to maintain the well-being of your mind, following are some ideas which can help you out if you are suffering from mental health issues:-

  1. Don’t hesitate in asking for help – Despite the changing times, many people who suffer from mental illness hesitate in discussing their share of problems. Discussing what all is going in your mind with either someone close to you in your family or with a close friend or a psychiatrist helps in bringing much relief. This will not only loosen up the burden in your mind but also will bring in some fair share of valuable advice from them to help you out.

  2. Do exercise for at least half an hour – Doing exercises or hitting the gym not only enhances your physical health but also plays a major role in keeping your mental health well in control. Exercising does increases your pulse rate and decreases the possibilities of stress, owing to the focus and determination you put in one particular thing.

  3. Intake of healthy food – Again, like exercise, a proper diet too is essential to keep your mind happy, apart from keeping your body clean and fit in terms of physical appeal in and out. Having sugary and oily foods should be avoided in this duration, as it only increases the sugar and fat level in your body, thus resulting in additional stress. Consult a trained dietician and follow his/her instructions regarding this.

  4. Practice yoga and meditation – It is said that one should spend at least 10-15 minutes with oneself to make sure he/she is at complete peace and doesn’t get subjected to anxiety. To help things here, practising yoga and meditation or listening to calm and soothing music really can help you out, for it helps in keeping the mind in a soothing condition.

  5. Have ample sleep – To keep your body calm, ensure proper regulation of blood flow and reduce stress, ample amount of rest too is required to make sure your mind is at peace. The recommended sleeping duration for an adult is anywhere between six to eight hours, which should be followed irrespective of what physical and mental labor you are doing in a whole day.

  6. Staying connected with people around you – Meeting the existing set of friends as well as family members and even making new friends and building up connections and relations does help in diverting your attention from those problems which actually really don’t matter to you in a bigger picture. Discussing new ideas, theories, facts and beliefs with your existing circle as well as new people will open up your mind to new information, thus strengthening your mind.

  7. Cut off from social media temporarily – For some people, the usage of social media in excess can be toxic, for the unrealistic expectations which it brings along with it in case of them. To keep this in check, it is recommended to log off from the world of social media for a while and explore new things and hobbies to make sure your mind is engaged in one activity or the other.

  8. Go outside – In these tough times of COVID-19, getting out frequently might not be a must-to-do thing. However, with ample follow-up of social distancing and practicing hygiene, you can go out and dwell with the beauty of nature and things you actually love the most, like sipping a hot coffee, taking a stroll at your favorite park/lakeside, go on a long drive/ride, jogging, etc.

  9. Avoid consumption of alcohol – While many do believe that consumption of alcohol brings in temporary relief to forget the mental pain they are suffering from, it is actually a very bad idea in the long run. Consumption of alcohol can become frequent when you are suffering from mental illness, which will eventually damage your body by welcoming cardiovascular and liver diseases.

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Apart from gathering new information by meeting people and following all the aforementioned steps, you should also be aware of the best mental practices. This can be done by consulting with a trained medical or mental health professional or psychiatrist.

PsychiatryHoney Mathur