How Can You Improve Your Mental Health?

What is mental health?

Mental health is an integral part of the health system. It is more than the absence of mental illnesses. It is how you feel, how you handle stress and how you relate to others. It is the foundation of the well-being and effective functioning of the individual.

Why does it play an important role in your life?

Firstly, because if you are not mentally healthy, you tend to fall prey to a diseased physical state, leading to chronic illnesses.

Secondly, you tend to identify slight changes in your mental state as normal or just a setback and avoid them, till the point of mental exhaustion, and that’s where the problems begin, both at the level of the mind and the body.

The question arises, how, when and from whom should we seek help?

Let's delve into this.

Have you at any point experienced these symptoms?

Mentally tired, Emotionally drained, Overwhelmed, Irritated without a clear reason,

Feel like you needed a break.

Interacting with any of these is an indication to turn focus on your mental health.

How can you do that?

‘Science explains the WHY, but daily practices strengthen the How.’

Four daily care activities that you can practice are:

1. Taking breaks without guilt
2. Expressing your feelings
3. Adequate rest
4. Doing something for yourself, which makes you happy.

The most important thing is pausing at regular intervals. And what can be done in those pauses that will rejuvenate you is what I will tell you.

• Micro-Rest Protocol – 5 minutes. No phone. Slow breathing. This helps in the nervous system reset.
• Box Breathing- Inhale 4. Hold 4. Exhale 4. Hold 4. This reduces physiological stress response.
• Rumination Window- Schedule worry. Don't let it run all day. (10-minute contained thinking time.)
• Cognitive Pause - Before reacting, ask: What else could this mean? (Prevents cognitive distortions.)
• Psychological Detachment Ritual- End the workday intentionally. One sentence: "Work is closed for today."
• Behavioural Activation Rule- Take one small action before mood improves.

These small changes in your lifestyle patterns will surely help your mental health and improve the effectiveness of your functioning. If you need help when you feel stuck, and your mental health is not in the best of shape, do not hesitate to reach out to us.