Mental Health Checklist: Tick Off These Daily Habits To Boost Your Mental Health

Mental Health according to the WHO is a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with normal stresses of life, can work productively & fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.

It is true that the changing lifestyle is affecting our mental health in various ways. Be it being awake or sleeping till late; binging on your favorite snack while watching a show. Even bad eating habits can lead to mental health issues. It is necessary to look after your mind like you often look after your diet.

Here Are Some Daily Habits To Tick Off To Boost Your Mental Health:

• Sleeping Or Waking Up Early- 10 pm to 2 am is said to be the time when your body is secreting the hormones for optimal recovery. Being awake till late will automatically make your body irritable. Whereas if you sleep on time every day around 10 to 11 pm, you will wake up in the morning feeling fresh and energetic. Waking up early makes you experience the morning sun, fresh air and a lot of time to exercise & meditate.
• Less Screen- Sitting in front of a screen for too long, not only hurts your eyes but slows down the brain functioning as well. It also makes you less vulnerable, less curious, low self-control, and less physical activity or lack of interest in daily activities. Scrolling through social media can make you question your identity by looking at the ‘oh-so-perfect’ lives. It can lead to a distorted self-image and poor mental health. So, avoid scrolling through your phone at least 2 hours before going to bed and 2 hours after waking up.
• Self-Love, Self Care And Gratitude- When you love yourself, you love the world! Furthermore, when you love yourself, you treat yourself well. Don’t be put back by societal expectations or standards and love yourself the way you are. When feeling low, indulge in some self-care practices like listening to music, drawing, sketching, jogging, applying nail paint, doing skincare, or dancing.
  Practicing gratitude makes a person more thankful and satisfied with what they have. It helps you value the little things in life and feel less anxious about the world. Make a journal every morning, write about things around you that make your life valuable.
• More Movement- Sitting for too long or just lying in the bed can slow down the blood flow. And can also decrease brain activity. Not feeling like going out or interacting with anyone can also take a negative toll on mental health. Some studies have shown that physical activity can improve mood, boost cognitive function and increase heart rate. Get out in fresh air, go for a walk in nature, lay a yoga mat, and stretch or dance. And of course, exercise! Because it increases the production of happy hormones- endorphins.
• Good Nutrition- Good nutrition is as important as good movement. Have good nutritious meals with all the nutrients and vitamins, rather than binging on shows and snacks. Meals should include Omega-3 fats, vitamin B, C, and D for improving mental health. Foods like nuts, spinach, yogurt, dark chocolate, fresh fruits, vegetables, etc. must be included in meals to feel light and energetic but keep the brain functioning.
• Clean It Away! – A clean space is a clean mind! Seeing your space dirty will make you feel unmotivated to do anything. Studies have also shown that cluttered space leads to less cortisol in the body. So, keep yourself busy cleaning your room and your space for better brain functioning. Clean space can also improve mood, sleep quality and of course the level of cortisol in the body.

Footnote:
Good mental health is not always about taking therapies and medicines. They are important in order to cure disorders but small lifestyle changes can make a big difference.