When we think about if we are healthy or not we determine it based on if we eat healthy food and if we get plenty of movement. More often than not the mental side of it is being ignored.
Mental health is just as important, if not more, than our physical health. If our mental health is good we can improve our physical health. However if you only focussed on physical health it’s much more difficult to all of a sudden try to improve your mental health. There is no one size fits all for improving your health, especially not your mental health. Our mental strength comes from believing in ourselves and feeling good. If something is going on mentally we need to find someone to talk about it and find a way to get over it. Implementing enough periods to relax and to recover are important as well. The older genarations are brought up with the thought that our body needs to be kept well to be healthy. Unfortunately they didn’t always get thought that mental health is important.
Mental health can be just as important as physical health – and major depression is one of the most commonly diagnosed mental illnesses. – Michael Greger
It’s important that you are feeling well, but also pay attention to the people around you. Your friends, family, colleagues and even strangers could end up with mental problems. If there are things going on in their life they might just need someone to listen to them. However if something more is going on be sure to also help them find professional help nearby. When they refuse to go to the professional help they need don’t force them, neither think that you will be enough to help them get back on their feet. Don’t have anyone around with issues and neither are you struggling at the moment? You can prepare now to help others and yourself with future needs. Start organising a support system to enjoy together and who can support whenever it’s needed. It’s not the question if people you know or yourself will have mental problem, but rather when.
An important component to mental health is to take time to rest and to spend time with friends and family. Obligations and work are important to survive and maintain your lifestyle. We like to be efficiënt and make sure that we can provide for our family and their wellbeing. It’s crucial to know that your family is doing well, but despite that you might be the person providing for the family you have to take care for yourself as well. Instead of focussing solely on caring for your family’s health and wellbeing pay attention to yourself. If you are caving under all the pressure you have set for yourself you aren’t going to end up in a good space. Be sure to find some time to relax and to recover from the pressure you put on yourself.