What is mental health?
Mental health is health of your mind. Your mental fitness greatly affects your daily functioning. Are you mentally out of balance, experiencing a lot of stress or are other health problems affecting your life? If so, you may not feel your best physically either. You can be super healthy physically, but a wreck mentally. When your body and mind function in balance, you can get the best out of yourself and life.
1. Count & write down your blessings
It may sound cliché and right out of a talk show, but gratitude helps you focus not on the negative, but on the positive in life. Try writing down three things every day that you are grateful for that day. That new book you bought, a sweet compliment from a colleague or a delicious meal you ate. During and after writing it down, you will notice that your brain produces happiness chemicals, which will make you feel better.
2. Let go of that wine for once
It seems like a long shot: moderate your alcohol consumption. Almost everyone knows that alcohol is not good for our bodies. It negatively affects various parts of our brain, not to mention the liver and kidneys. Many people drink a few wines, beers or other alcoholic beverages every day. Try not drinking that much, you will soon find that you are fitter and sharper the day after, even if it was only two glasses a day.
3. Go for a walk (in the woods) and train your brain
Dozens of studies have already proven it: nature is very good for our mental health. A daily minimum of twenty minutes of walking or cycling in nature lowers blood pressure, reduces stress, improves mood, reduces anxiety and makes us feel more cheerful. And no, you don't have to go hiking in the Ardennes for hours right away; a half-hour or even twenty-minute walk in a park or in the woods is enough. Walking increases activity in the hippocampus and you will find that during the day you are better able to concentrate and remember things.
4. Nutrition is your body's fuel
Healthy and varied eating is just as important as exercise. Don't fill your body, but feed your body. By eating healthy, you will find that your brain responds accordingly. Zinc, for example, is very good for memory, concentration and problem solving. B vitamins play a major role in the body's energy balance. Eat vegetables, fruits and plenty of fiber and your body will thank you.
Discover the possibilities of Johan.nl
Learn more5. Sleep yourself fit!
Sleeping well is perhaps the most important ingredient in a good balance of body and mind. Sleeping well once a night will not solve all your problems, but structurally it certainly will. Your brain is, as it were, cleansed during the night and prepared for a new day. A good night's sleep often ensures that you feel better during the day and can concentrate better. As mentioned before: rest, cleanliness and regularity. A good night's sleep can certainly be classified as 'rest and regularity'. An afternoon nap is not bad at all, but make sure you get enough hours of sleep at night to allow your body to recover optimally.
6. Meditation can be learned
Meditation can help you feel less rushed and live with more peace and calm. Mindfulness helps you to not be preoccupied with something that happened yesterday or what is to come, but to enjoy the here-and-now. There are hundreds of ways you can apply mindfulness; yoga is also a good way to relax your body and mind and release stress. Focus on your breathing for five minutes in the morning and you'll make a wonderfully fresh start, or try it just in the evening to clear your head before you go to sleep.
7. Talk about your feelings
You don't have to do it all yourself. Everyone has a time in his or her life when it all goes wrong. This can have all kinds of causes, but it is important to know that there is help out there. Talking about your feelings can be a huge relief and can help you go so far. Would you like to make an appointment with a professional? Check here for professionals.
Mentally fit with Johan
The various collaborations on the Johan portal have created an independent digital ecosystem. In this ecosystem, supply and demand come together to work on the best possible working situation. On the portal, you have insight into your health and functioning, access to products to develop yourself and control over your own data. All this while maintaining privacy, in a safe and fun environment.
Photo Credit: Unsplash