When we talk about health and wellness, the things that most commonly come to find are the aspects of health pertaining to fitness, hydrating and exercise. What we tend to overlook is mental or psychological health, which is quite the contradiction because the very definition of health stresses the various aspects of health, including mental health. Thus reinforcing the statement, that there is no health without mental health.
When we neglect mental health, we are ignoring our inner voice, our emotions, the impact that our interactions with one another, the potential to reach our fullest potential and most importantly, the fact that each of us deserve help and healing when our mental health is compromised. Sweeping mental illness under the proverbial rug only leads to the continuation and acceleration of stereotypes and thus, the isolation of those living with mental health issues. As bad as it may be to live with mental health issues which can range from mood disorders to personality disorders, it doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom (even though it may feel that way at times). Also, you don’t have to have a mental illness in order to take care of your mental health and wellness. Getting clued up on the various ways, especially those more easily accessible to most people, that enhance mental health, can also help you to extend loving care to those around you who may need it. With this in mind, I thought I’d share a couple of ways in which we can take care of, not only our own mental health, but also that of those around us.
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Check in on yourself and your loved ones
A little introspection can go a very long way. Self-analysis is not only free but also offers a wealth of benefits. When you check in yourself regularly to assess your level of emotional and psychological well-being, it’s easier to identify areas that are neglected and then make the necessary adjustments to work on those areas. Checking in on your loved ones, is a selfless act that in turns boosts your well-being and lets them know that there’s someone in this world who cares that they are alive and well.
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Spend time in nature
Our environment has an impact on our wellbeing, there’s a whole branch of therapy that emphasises and uses nature as a therapeutic tool called Eco therapy. I reckon it would do us a lot of good to “stop and smell the flowers” at every chance we get. Just to unwind from your day for a few seconds to gaze upon a clear blue sky, or to kick off your shoes and feel the sand or grass between your toes or feel the wind against your skin. Nature has always played a vital role in the lives of people from inspiring creativity to supporting basic survival, nature can also be extremely therapeutic proven by emerging psychotherapy practices like Eco therapy and the best thing about it, is that it is absolutely free.
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Just Breathe…
Ancient yogis discovered the power of breath or pranayama (energy control) eons ago and many people are still using deep breathing techniques to help them relax, enter meditative states and relieve stress. Deep breathing can help shift the focus of an anxious, overthinking mind and bring a sense of inner stillness and peace to a tense body. Check out this example of a deep breathing exercise: https://yogabybeauty.wordpress.com/2017/07/17/breathe-easy/
These small and simple ways are in no way meant to replace psychotherapy or psychopharmaceutic treatments offered by mental health professionals, but rather, to be used in conjunction with conventional treatment. These methods can be used in everyday life situations by everyday people at no cost, meaning they are easily accessible to us all and can go a long way in maintaining and even enhancing mental health.
-Beauty Boois
Tweet Beauty:
@Khoisan_Yogi or @NamMentalHealth,
