We all have our mental health, and at some point in our lives, we will all struggle with it. Some are affected more than others, and it’s important that it’s addressed every time and that we can talk about it without feeling embarrassed or ashamed.
There are daily habits that we do that can affect our mental health and make us more vulnerable, so in order to help ourselves out, here are five habits that might be affecting your mental health.
Your Work Environment
We all have to work to earn money, and for most of us, we’ll be working for many years until we get to retire. So we need to be happy in the workplace, and for some, this isn’t the case.
It’s easy for us to say yes to things but harder to say no and sometimes we need to say no in order to give ourselves a break. Your work environment can be a stressful place especially if you’re not fully supported by the company and those in senior positions.
By taking on too much or perhaps having problems at work with certain colleagues, this can really impact negatively on your mental health, and although having a job is important, nothing is worth it enough to risk your health.
Going forward it’s a good idea to sit down with your manager and to discuss your concerns. A lot of these worries can go on without your boss knowing how you really feel and if it’s voiced out load, then something can be done.
However, if nothing changes the situation, then it might be worth looking elsewhere for a job and company that’s going to make you feel better and support you in times of trouble.
Your Diet & Fitness
It is difficult to maintain a healthy diet and fitness plan, especially when there’s plenty of temptation to be had. When it comes to your food intake, certain foods are going to make you feel good, and other food will make you feel good temporarily.
Not eating healthily can make you feel sluggish, it can affect your energy levels and how you feel on a daily basis. Junk food may be nice at the time, but it’s not going to do you any favors in the long run.
So to keep yourself feeling good, it’s good practice to eat only healthy foods and to cut down on bad habits like alcohol, which can prevent interventions like rehab from happening.
When it comes to your fitness, keeping fit is important at whatever age, and it can help you from gaining an excessive amount of weight which is good to avoid as it will help with your general health.
Find something that you enjoy doing, rather than doing it just because it’s been recommended by a friend or family member. Once you’ve found something you enjoy it will become less of a chore and easier to make into a habit.
Your Social Media Feed
Social media has become a tool that we all use to show off our lives to friends, family, and complete strangers. Businesses use it to grow a following and to reach new customers, and many of us use social media to keep with what’s happening in the world.
However, not everything that we see is real or an accurate version of that person’s life, but as viewers, we can let ourselves believe it to be true. Too much time spent scrolling through each other’s feeds can be harmful on your own mental health and self-worth.
It’s always a good idea to take a bit of a social media detox every now and then to allow yourself to step away from what can sometimes be quite toxic. It’s good to refocus on your own life and making yourself happy.
Your Sleep Routine
Sleep has a big impact on how you feel, and if you don’t get enough of it, you can end up burning yourself out and not having enough the right amount of energy that you need to do your work and to live your life.
Sleep helps your body to repair itself and to recover, which can be crucial if you’ve had a hard day of work or it’s just been a long day. Don’t deny yourself the sleep that your body needs and only you know how much of it you need every night.
Getting yourself a proper sleep routine is key, and the best way to do this is to find a trigger to help your body know that it’s time to relax.
Try to keep any electronics out of your bedroom when you go to bed and look at alternative ways to get yourself to sleep if you struggle to unwind and relax in bed. Two examples are to wear an eye mask to block out light completely and try sprays or oils to help relax.
Your Social Life
Everyone needs to have that social connection, whether you have a large group of friends, multiple friendships groups, or just one or two close friends.
If you’re not spending enough time towards your social life then you risk feeling vulnerable and lonely, and that can be harmful to your mental wellbeing over time. No matter how busy you get, you should always make time for your friends and family.
It’s also good to surround yourself with the right people, and if there’s someone that’s not making you feel good about yourself, it’s likely that they’re not meant to be in your life, so cut them out.
Mental health is an important topic that should always be discussed so that more of us can openly talk about it without feeling ashamed or guilty of not always being ok. So consider what might be affecting your mental health.
It could be something happening at work, perhaps it’s at home or with the family. Maybe you’re spending too much time on social media and not enough time making social connections in the real world.
