Your Mental and Emotional Health is As Important as Your Physical
Stress, a poor diet and not getting enough exercise are a one-way ticket to poor mental health. Add in the fluctuating hormones that come with aging and menopause and your mental health can be all over the place. There are also other lifestyle and environmental factors that could be sabotaging your mental well-being.
1. Stressing Out
Subjecting your mind and body to persistent stress from work, relationships, or financial worries can lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues according to the experts at Very Well Mind. Stress can also, so it’s important to find healthy ways to lower stress, boost your mood, and get out of your head. Take a long walk in nature, start a gratitude diary, and add a meditation and mindfulness practice to your daily routine.
2. Sleep Deprivation
Lack of sleep or poor quality sleep can affect your mood, cognitive function, and overall physical and mental health. It can also prematurely age you. Start a bedtime routine, lower your screen time, and take melatonin if sleep is an issue.
3. Unhealthy Diet
You are what you eat. If your diet consists of processed foods, sugar overload, and unhealthy fats this can negatively impact your mental and physical health. Not getting enough nutrition and vitamins can cause inflammation in the body which ages you faster and can be a precursor to more serious health issues and disease.
4. Lack of Exercise
Regular exercise is crucial for your mental well-being and physical health. If you lack physical activity, this can lead to increased stress and depression. Make exercise a daily part of your routine. Go for a long walk, join a gym (social interaction is also important) take up yoga, or do some gentle stretches. It’s also important not to overdo it as too much exercise without rest and recovery can age you and cause health issues.
5. Social Network
Without supportive relationships or social interactions, we can feel isolated, lonely, and depressed. Join a group, have regular coffee dates with friends, Facetime family, or volunteer your time to elevate your confidence and sense of self and keep loneliness at bay.
6. Negative Thinking
Negative thought patterns and self-criticism can ruin your self-esteem and confidence and lead to anxiety and depression. Shift your negative mindset to one of gratitude and abundance to adopt a more positive mindset and boost your mental health.
7. Seasonal Affective Disorder
A lack of sunlight, especially during winter can lead to seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Insufficient exposure to the sun results in vitamin D deficiency which leads to depression. Go for a walk on a sunny day, take vitamin D supplements, and book that beach holiday, you only live once.
8. Unhealed Trauma
Many of us are walking around carrying our past traumatic experiences which when not addressed can negatively impact our self-esteem, behavior, and mental health. Get in touch with your trauma through therapy or journaling and get to know your triggers, fears, and unhealthy behavior patterns.
9. Self-Medicating
Stress, emotional turmoil, unresolved trauma, and low self-esteem can be a catalyst for avoidant, self-sabotaging behavior, and self-medicating through alcohol, and drugs. While they may take away the pain at the moment, alcohol and drugs are depressants that exacerbate anxiety and depression and worsen symptoms of declining mental health issues. Adopt better healthier ways to manage your stress.
10. Financial Pressure
Constant worry about finances or debts can elevate your stress levels and put you in a state of high anxiety according to the Washington Post. Create a budget, talk to a financial planner, find ways to lower your monthly expenses, and cut back on little extravagancies. That daily $6 cup of coffee is costing you $2190 per year.
11. Toxic Workplace
A toxic or stressful high-pressure work environment can lead to burnout, anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems. Talk to your supervisor to find ways to lower your workload and find more satisfaction in your job, or look for a new one if it’s messing with your mental health (check the workplace culture before signing on). It’s also important to balance work and life and lower stress by doing more of the things you enjoy.
12. No Purpose
Without a sense of purpose or direction, your life can feel meaningless, and empty and this can lead to major depression. Not having hobbies, or engaging in activities that bring you joy can also lead to boredom and a lack of fulfillment. Set some goals, take a course, join a social group, and plan activities or trips so you have something to look forward to.
13. Relationship Issues
We need healthy relationships to thrive. Having positive relationships boosts our confidence, and self-esteem and brings a sense of joy and purpose to our lives. If you’re having problems in your marriage, relationship, with friends or family or a relationship has become toxic, this can deeply impact your mental health. When you are the subject of criticism, belittling, manipulation, and control you experience emotional distress, which results in anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and feelings of self-doubt.
14. Media Overload
The technological age we are living in is hurting our mental health. Too much screen time, not enough physical activity, and overexposure to an endless stream of negative news and unattainable images on social media can lead to anxiety, and depression, and evoke feelings of inadequacy, worry, and fear. Do a digital detox and reduce the amount of time you spend doom scrolling.
15. Obsessive Perfectionism
There is no such thing as the perfect person or relationship and setting unrealistically high standards for yourself is setting you up for failure. Obsessively striving for perfectionism is also causing you chronic stress, feelings of disillusionment, and dissatisfaction. Practice self-care, silence your negative voice, accept yourself for who you are (flaws and all), and be more patient, gentle, and empathetic.