5 Common Habits That Could Be Harmful For Your Mental Health

There is no workaround for this habit it. You should move either by doing house works or exercise. Perhaps, one of the reasons our bodies have so many joints is because we’re meant to move.

We’ve been moving, walking, running and other physical activities we since the beginning of human evolution.

Hence, if you’re sitting all day watching TV or spending long hours on your phone, then you’re hurting your mental health. As a matter of fact, binging on TV for 3 hours or more is fatal.  And for children, excessive sitting and spending too many hours on screens put them at risk of heart disease. And know this that experts now consider sitting for excessive hours has the effect of cigarette smoking.

If a sedentary or inactive lifestyle is your habit, you may highly likely to suffer from depression, chronic pains including back pain, anxiety and other hosts of negative health consequences.

So keep moving. Get up and do physical activities such as walking, running, or exercise outdoors. Which leads us to the next harmful habit for mental health, which is never going outdoors.

A lot of people today are comfortable staying indoors watching TV, or spending time with their smartphones on social media. However, not going outdoors means you’re not getting enough sunlight, which is the best source of the right kind of Vitamin D.

So, make an effort to change this habit and start spending some time outdoors like in parks. Spending time in nature is good for mental health. Moreover, if you add activities like running or walking, it makes spending time outdoors even healthful.

Moreover, spending time outdoors is an effective way to calm your body’s nervous system, which can result in better stress management. And, of course, you’ll meet other people with the same purpose or vibes with you making social connections better.

Studies say that stress is a predictor of heart disease. Not a good news, indeed. Of course, some level of stress is not that bad. It is the chronic stress making people sick.

Constant thoughts of financial issues and relationship problems or conflicts can eventually take a toll on one’s health and well-being. If you’re one of these people living in constant stress, or perhaps know someone, take time to de-stress.

There are natural stress management ways anyone can do starting right now. However, if the stress is too big or difficult to handle, always seek professional help.

Of course, the first thing you should try doing to ease stress is go outside. Spend your time outdoors and start appreciating the beauty of nature. This may sound superficial but it works if you make it habit.

Have a pet and schedule a daily walk. It is fun and when the fun begins, stress starts to subside.

Diet may seem unimportant to people as long as they can eat, it’s fine. However, proper food choices matter. The food we take in affects our mood and mental health.

Therefore, make wise food choices particularly, whole foods, or even better prefer organically produced foods. Eat foods that can boost your mood as these foods can also boost the body’s immune system.  And, of course, increase your energy level throughout the day.

Stay away from fast foods as they can cause various unhealthy consequences including mental health. Diets like the ketogenic diet is good for brain and mental health.

Earlier we’ve mentioned that smartphones are among the things that make people stay indoors. Indeed, overuse of cellphones to the point of addiction is bad for mental health particular for teenagers.

Besides social media, another reason teenagers are tied to smartphones is gaming, which is now classified as a mental disorder.

Smartphones are among the latest technologies that make use more efficient. However, using it inappropriately can have a toll on health particularly, mental health.

Young people are more vulnerable to this. So, parents should pay attention to guiding their children on how to use this technology in an appropriate manner.

Final Thoughts!

There you have it. These habits are very common and yet many people neglect to recognize the harmful effects on their mental health.

The key to overcoming these habits is to recognize the harmful effects. Some people may not be able to totally address any of these habits at once but one small step at a time is a good progress.

Hopefully, towards the end of the year, addressing these habits would be your priority and on top of the list of your new year’s resolution.