Most of us follow simple but effective ways to take care of our physical health (without even noticing them). For instance, brushing our teeth, giving our body proper nutrition, exercising, and scheduling regular health checkups.
No doubt, all these measures are crucial if we need to live a healthy and active lifestyle. However, when it comes to our mental health, we do not take it as seriously as our physical health, and we must change this habit. For this reason, we have compiled a list of practical ideas that will help you take care of your mental health along with your physical health in a more precise way.
Physical self-care
As we have already established, taking care of our mind and body is crucial. However, it is impossible to do it without first taking care of our bodies. Simple activities like getting a good night’s sleep, choosing an active lifestyle, and giving adequate nutrition to your body have physical and mental benefits.
When leading a busy lifestyle, you start ignoring the physical needs that help you stay active. But, that not only affects your physical but also your mental health. And over time, a slight problem like a chronic headache can turn itself into a severe health problem. In that case, opting for a health check can help you find underlying symptoms of an illness that has the potential to harm your physical and mental health. Plus, with regular health checkups, you give yourself the benefit of knowledge that improves your chances of leading a happier and healthier life. Below are some of the simple ways you can follow to improve your physical well-being:
- Getting 7–8 hours of sleep every night
- Make sure you eat the right food (add more fruits and vegetables to your diet)
- Take time for yourself and breathe fresh air in the natural environment.
- Not sitting or standing continuously for more than 30 minutes. If possible, use a timer to remind yourself to stretch
Find and create a circle of care
Humans are built with an innate need to create social ties with anyone they meet. It doesn’t matter if you’re an introvert or an extrovert. We all need a support network to help us maintain healthy mental health. And it’s one of the most effective strategies when it comes to taking care of your mental health.
When trusting someone and leaning them on during a difficult situation, you ask them to be a part of your circle of care. In return, you get mental support from the members of your care circle to overcome a difficult life situation.
Also, please do the same with the other members of your circle of care and commit to reaching out to them whenever they have a hard time. Just knowing that someone is always there for you can make all the difference in enhancing your mental well-being.
Takeaway
Every aspect of your life is dependent on how good you feel. And to feel better about yourself, first, you need to take care of yourself. You can do it by taking care of your mental and physical health. Ignoring any one of them will impact your professional and personal life negatively. So make sure you give yourself the benefit of care with the methods mentioned above.
Robert Haynes did his degree in psychology at the University of Hertfordshire. He is interested in mental health and well-being.
