Written by Naomi Fountain
Mental health heavily influences a person’s overall health and well-being. It has been found that people who develop coping skills, self-esteem, and self-confidence have better overall health. Throughout this blog entry, you’ll find plenty of ideas and exercises for improving your mental well-being.
Exercising
While exercise is frequently associated with physical health benefits, recent research indicates that it is also critical for positive mental health. Exercise has been shown to accomplish this by lowering anxiety, depression, and overall negative moods. Additionally, it has been demonstrated to improve self-esteem, confidence, and cognitive function. Ford Wellness leverages this knowledge to offer a diverse range of classes, programs, and services to improve physical and mental health.
Getting enough sleep
While we all sleep, some of us sleep significantly more than others, which can have a negative impact on our moods and overall mental health. Ford Wellness recommends sleeping between 7-9 hours per night. This is beneficial because it prepares your body for REM sleep. Your brain is active during REM sleep, processing emotional information. As a result, studies have demonstrated that sleeping less or spending less time in REM sleep is detrimental to the overall consolidation of positive emotions. This is because our bodies are incapable of processing them.
Meditation and or yoga
With increased awareness of mental health issues, many people have turned to yoga and meditation for mental health benefits. Both yoga and meditation have been shown to reduce anxiety, improve mental clarity, and promote calmness. This is possibly due to the increased body awareness during these activities. Many people can now think through their emotions and aspirations due to this new awareness.
Cutting phone time down
With the rise of social media, the number of women and men expressing low self-esteem or confidence has increased dramatically over the last decade. Many have caught themselves comparing their features and lives to others on popular apps like Instagram and TikTok. People have associated their mental health struggles with social media platforms which highlight unrealistic societal standards. Society’s fascination with “That Girl” (a version of a perfect woman who meets societal standards of beauty, wealth, and popularity on social media) has caused many women to undergo drastic, and sometimes dangerous, transformations to fit in. Limiting your exposure to social media will allow you to focus on yourself and reduce your exposure to these detrimental mental health trends.
Taking time for yourself
Studies have shown that individuals who have regular alone time experience reduced stress and increased relaxation and motivation. While relationships are very beneficial, it is also critical to get to know oneself and to develop self-love. To do this, try engaging in activities by yourself, like certain hobbies, reading a book, or going for walks.
By eating healthy and clean foods, and following the steps above, you will have a great start for improving your mental health! Wishing you the best of luck and happiness on your mental health and wellness journey!
“Mental health problems don’t define who you are. They are something you experience. You walk in the rain and you feel the rain, but you are not the rain.” — Matt Haig
