There are many parallels between physical health and mental health. Both of these components work together to determine how well our bodies function and the extent to which we can enjoy the world around us.
For example, it is common knowledge that certain activities like hitting the gym, going for a walk, or doing yoga are all beneficial in terms of promoting physical health. In much the same way, there are various activities that just as significantly affect mental health as well.
In this article, we will discuss three activities that promote mental health and stability. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but these three small activities have been shown to aid in improving mental health.
Help Other People
When thinking about ways to feel happier and more fulfilled, we all too often place ourselves and our own needs first. The idea that if we could only obtain this or achieve that, then we would feel happier is a common thought process. This constant search for more in the effort to improve mental health is often the wrong way of thinking.
Instead of placing ourselves at the top of the list, helping out other people is a fantastic way to feel more happy and satisfied. The old saying, “tis better to give than receive” that is quoted every year around Christmas is accurate the rest of the year too.
According to Mental Health America, research indicates that those who consistently help other people experience less depression, greater calm, fewer pains, and better health. If you want to promote better mental health in your own life, allow your own wants and needs to take a backseat to the needs of others.
Declutter
Taking regular periods of time to tidy up the spaces where you spend most of your time is another activity that can have a very positive affect on your mental health. Places like your desk, vehicle and bedroom are prone to clutter and mess. If you think about it, a worried mind is often very similar to a cluttered room, thoughts swirling around without any organized process to sort through the cause of concern.
The role that your external environment can have on your internal one is important to keep in mind. According to the Mayo Clinic, tidying up can have a positive impact on mental health.
The brain favors organization, so in a situation where both your thoughts and surroundings are both full of chaos and clutter, it can get overwhelmed. Your eyes will have too much competition from the various objects in your field of view to focus on whatever it is you’re trying to do. Taking a moment to tidy up here and there can go a long way in terms of mental health.
Read A Book
Reading can be one of those activities that sounds nice but seems unrealistic, as many of us feel like the free time required for such an activity is out of the question. That train of thought is a whole other mental health tip itself, but for now this discussion will center on the mental health benefits that reading a book can provide.
Mental Health First Aid England describes several ways in which reading can be a healthy activity for your mind. For example, when reading a really good book there is almost a sense of escape from the present.
We get so locked into a character and their situation that the troubles and worries in our own life get put on pause for a moment. There is also some research that suggests reading fictional books can lead to a stronger sense of empathy, bringing this article full circle back to the first activity listed, helping others.