5 Habits To Avoid For Good Mental Health

There are habits that we adopt without realizing how harmful they can be to our mental health.

Like any motor, the brain needs healing, just like any other part of our body. We must learn to prevent the problems that we will encounter in the future, which most of us do not often consider. We are therefore going to tell you about the 5 habits to avoid in order to maintain good mental health.

Good mental health is essential, which is why October 10 marks World Mental Health Day, a date that serves to make visible the silent danger of mental illness and its stigma. And, therefore, stress the importance of asking for help if we need it.

We don’t realize the importance of mental health until we put it at risk. Have you ever wondered how much time you spend taking care of your psyche?

Why should we take care of our mental health?

Mental state is just as important, if not more important, than physical state. It is therefore paradoxical that we go to the doctor for any illness, but that we refuse to seek psychological or psychiatric help when we are overwhelmed by our emotions.

Mental health is something that cannot be seen with the naked eye because what we experience, most of the time, is made up of subjective symptoms. Symptoms give us a pretty obvious warning of physical illnesses. However, psychological disorders are more difficult to detect. We then speak of internal symptomatology.

This means that most of the time the person does not worry too much and does not go to a professional. Because of this, we can incubate a discomfort long enough for it to turn into a disorder, when it could have been treated in a simpler way from the start.

Habits to avoid to improve your mental state

1. Don’t have breakfast

How many times have you heard that “breakfast is the most important meal of the day”? Still, there are a lot of people who don’t eat breakfast and it’s a bad habit. Indeed, if we do not eat breakfast, our blood sugar levels become low. And do you know what that entails?

Our organs are compromised because they don’t know where to get sugar. Therefore, they generate an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain, which will slowly degenerate. This phenomenon results in poorer intellectual performance throughout the day.

2. Not getting enough sleep

Without the good hours of sleep, your body will not be able to regenerate itself. There are many people who go to bed late or who, due to their obligations, cannot fall asleep properly. When this bad practice becomes a habit, cognitive processes are significantly affected.

Additionally, stress, depression, mood swings, and in the long run, strokes can occur, among other problems associated with the mind. Remember that on average, it is advisable to sleep 8 hours to recover well.

3. Smoke

Healthcare professionals who treat people with psychiatric problems often neglect the smoking habits of their patients. They assume that it is best to treat depression, anxiety, or addiction issues in the first place.

However, research from the University of Washington in the United States shows that people with mood or addiction issues can safely quit smoking. Either way, quitting smoking is associated with better mental health.

4. Do not exercise

“ Although the impact of physical exercise on mental health is still being studied, sport acts on the central nervous system, stabilizing its proteins and preventing diseases caused by the disturbance of the balance of these substances ” , says Miguel del Valle, professor at the University of Oviedo and delegate of the Rectorate Sport and Health.

Plus, being on the move is not only good for your body, but your brain will thank you for it. This produces better blood circulation which facilitates the generation of better ideas. This phenomenon also helps reduce stress and put your thoughts on pause.

5. Too much use of electronic devices

Currently, most social practices are experienced in a dematerialized way, via the Internet. Thus, the pace of life is focused on electronic devices where one can access social networks and other similar things.

The constant use of technology, especially smartphones, prevents us from enjoying the present. It also causes vision problems, stress, insomnia, depression and anxiety.

You now know a few daily habits that you may not have given enough importance to. With small changes, we can greatly improve our quality of life to enjoy good mental health.