Although our mind and body are considered two separate systems. But, the fact is that your mental and physical health draw counter-effects on each other.
Where a healthy mental state impacts your body constructively, poor mental health ruins it overall despite all your efforts with work-life balance and a healthy diet.
Have you ever experienced shivering and nausea before performing on a stage or speaking to a large headcount? Why does that happen? This is because you don’t feel confident enough or may be not prepared for the scenario. This sends negative signals to your body which reflects as palpitations, shivering, headache or nausea.
Thus your mental state should be healthy if you want to hold a healthy body and thus lead a healthy life.
In this article, we’ll discuss the significant aspects of holding a healthy mental state to maintain a healthy body and sustain balance in life. So let’s dive in…
Defining The Healthy Mental State
Our mental health encompasses various bodily functions as well as our social well-being. The way we feel, think and cope with situations and feelings are affected by our mental stature.
If you’re happy, you can take wrong scenarios by being calm, and find the solutions effortlessly as your mind works better. But, imagine you’re hurt or feeling sad and now you need to work for a long span of 8 hours. Indeed, the productivity will not match its expectations. Eventually, you’re glummer.
How Does mental Health Affect Physical Health?
Holding upon to your physical health only will give your partial contentment. You need to take care of your mental state as well. Numerous factors affect your mental health. The prime ones are-
- Physical exertion
- Dietary Choices
- Influence of people
- Workload
- Structural factors include living environment, availability of economic sources, employment, education, etc.
- Freedom from violence and discrimination
- Social and community factors such as a positive sense of belonging, social participation, and social support
- Unforeseen events such as the demise of a beloved one or diagnosis of a chronic illness
Why Should You Take Care of Your Mental Health?
By taking care of mental health, you allow your body to work well without distractions and confusion. Here are some of the prime reasons why you should take care of your mental health. Check them in-
- It helps handle and to cope with negative scenarios.
- It allows you to form healthy relationships with others and open up.
- It helps you realize your real potential and persona.
- It promotes your productivity and creativity.
- It keeps you physically fit.
Signs You’re NOT in a Healthy Mental State
When you are overloaded with numerous mental stress and emotional abruptions, your body starts reflecting some negative signs or symptoms of physical health deterioration. These signs are-
- Inferiority complex
- Taking unhealthy food choices
- Experiencing brain scramble or monkey mind
- Taking general comments personally and getting emotional
- Feeling irritated, unfair, or frustrated
- Staying in a fight or flight mode which means either confronting informally or escaping from the scenarios
- Shallow Breathing
- Difficulty concentrating
- Lack of creativity and openness
- Feeling exhausted
- Lower immunity
- Nausea
- Avoiding social participation or involvement
- Feeling pressured or unappreciated
Tips To Maintain Mental & Physical Health
- Get enough sleep and rest whenever you feel tired.
- Start speaking to wise people who can listen and understand your concern
- Take a break whenever you required
- Get involved in work or activities you enjoy
- Be active and have a healthy balanced diet
- Set realistic goals and take an objective at a time
- Practice deep breathing in case you feel anxious or less confident
- Practice mindfulness as it will help you recognize and appreciate your real being
- Form a habit of journalizing whatever you feel or think as it helps you open up.
- Do not hesitate to seek help when you need it.
Bottom Line
Whether you’re feeling unhealthy mentally or physically; it’s your choice to seek guidance and support to fix it or sustain in that state. So the first step towards a healthy mind and body is to listen to your inner needs and speak about them. Encourage and appreciate yourself. Join a community of the same interests to spend some good time. Adopt a healthy habit or hobby. Follow a complete sleep cycle of at least 6-7 hours. These practices will help you open up and live a life you want with all contentment. That’s the main idea of keeping a healthy mental state and the rest will follow.
References-
- https://www.uchealth.com/en/media-room/articles/mental-health-and-Its-impact-on-physical-health
- https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/how-does-mental-health-affect-physical-health
