The 7 Keys to Maintaining Good Mental Health

The importance of having good mental health

The current situation has underlined the importance of having good mental health. Without mental well-being, it’s easy to fall into a dark pit.

Maintaining good mental health can be quite a challenge if you don’t have time or resources. While treatments for mental health problems can require a considerable amount of time, there are exercises  (such as the Valsalva maneuver) and breathing techniques that will help you process information and keep your brain in shape.

How to maintain good mental health?

Below are the seven keys to maintaining good mental health:

1. Healthy nutrition

A healthy diet is fundamental when caring not only for your mental health but also your physical health. Eating well helps you keep your mental health in check. It also makes your brain feel better physically, keeping it active and providing the nutrients it needs to stay healthy. Try to include foods in your diet that contain nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids or vitamins so you feel better and can enjoy good mental health.

2. Gratitude journals

A gratitude journal could become your best ally if you suffer from insomnia, that is, problems related to lack of rest. Write down the tasks you have scheduled for the day, reflect on what is important, and show gratitude for all the things that happened throughout the day. Writing will make your brain feel more tired, instilling a sense of fatigue that will help you sleep better at night. Make this a routine, since a rested brain is a happy brain.

3. Seeking a purpose

Most people are happier knowing they are striving toward something, that they are contributing to improving society and that they have a purpose in life. Whereas working without a clear goal does not bring any satisfaction. Pursuing a goal can help you feel that you have a reason to keep doing what you do.

4. Meditation

Meditation can help slow down the aging process in addition to providing other benefits. Meditating can instantly lift your mood and create an overall sense of well-being. Some of the exercises you can try include breathing techniques such as the 4-7-8 method or alternate nostril breathing. It’s also a good idea to do some form of physical activity like yoga so you can disconnect and relax.

5. Laughter

It is scientifically proven that laughter can help reverse certain types of brain damage by releasing chemicals that help strengthen parts of the brain that cannot heal otherwise. Beyond all that, when you laugh, good cholesterol increases and arterial inflammation is reduced. In other words, laughing helps you keep a healthy heart.

6. Stress management

Situations that cause stress can have serious consequences for your brain because they can overload it and leave you exhausted. Learning how to deal with stressful situations, such as exam periods or an especially hectic work week, can help you identify times during the week when you can give yourself a break. Allow yourself the time and freedom to get some fresh air from time to time.

7. No harmful substances

Tobacco, alcohol and other types of substances can produce alterations in inhibitory control, according to various scientific explanations. These effects —in most cases— are irreversible. This means it will be much harder to live with a permanently damaged brain than to survive without the drugs you are currently addicted to that give you only temporary happiness. Rehabilitation is an excellent starting point for the recovery of your brain and body —achieving a healthier, happier lifestyle— and for feeling more enthusiasm for life.

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“This article has been translated. Link to the original article in Spanish:”
Las 7 claves para mantener una buena salud mental