The current situation has underscored the importance of good mental health. Maintaining good mental health can be challenging if you don’t have the time or resources; Without mental well-being, it is easy to fall into a dark pit. While treating mental health problems can take a considerable amount of time, there are exercises (eg, the Valsalva maneuver) and breathing techniques to help you process information and keep your brain in shape.
Here are the seven keys to good mental health:
1. Healthy eating
A healthy diet is essential when it comes to taking care not only of your mental health, but also of your physical health. Eating healthy not only helps you keep your mental health in check, but it also makes your brain feel better physically, keeping it active and providing it with the necessary nutrients to be healthy. Try to include foods that contain nutrients such as omega 3 fatty acids or vitamins in your diet so that you feel better and can enjoy good mental health.
2. The gratitude diaries
A gratitude journal could become your best ally if you have insomnia, that is, problems related to lack of rest. Write down the tasks that you have scheduled for the day, reflect on what is important and show gratitude for all the things that happened throughout the day. Writing will make your brain feel more tired, thus instilling a feeling of exhaustion that will help you sleep better at night. Make this a routine, as a rested brain is a happy brain.
3. Search for a purpose
Most people are happier knowing that they are striving for something, that they are helping to improve society, and that they have a purpose in life. While working without a clear objective, in pursuit of absolute nothingness, does not bring you any kind of satisfaction. Pursuing a goal can help you feel like you have a reason to keep doing what you do.
4. Meditation
Meditation can help slow down the aging process in addition to providing other benefits. Meditation can immediately lift your spirits and produce an overall sense of well-being. Some of the exercises you can try are breathing techniques like the 4-7-8 method or alternate breathing. It is also a good idea to do some type of physical activity such as yoga so that you can disconnect and relax.
5. Laughter
It is scientifically proven that laughter can help reverse certain types of brain damage by releasing chemicals that help strengthen parts of the brain that cannot be healed otherwise. In addition to all this, laughing increases good cholesterol, and reduces inflammation of the arteries, helping you maintain a healthy heart!
6. Stress management
Stressful situations can have serious consequences for your brain because they can overload it and leave you drained. Learning to cope with stressful situations, such as exam time or a particularly busy work week, can help you determine the times of the week to take a break. Give yourself the time and freedom to breathe fresh air every now and then.
7. No harmful substances
Tobacco, alcohol and other classes of substances can produce alterations in inhibitory control, according to various scientific explanations. These effects – in most cases – are irreversible, which means that it will be much more difficult to live with a damaged brain for life than to survive without the drugs that you are currently addicted to and that bring you only temporary happiness. The rehabilitation is an excellent starting point for the recovery of your brain and your body –logrando a lifestyle more healthy and happy- and feel a greater zest for life.
