5 Things To Do To Maintain Mental Health

Illustration of things that must be done for mental health (Freepic)

YOGYAKARTA Certain habits support mental health. These habits need to be accompanied by avoiding things that trigger stress, insomnia, and others that interfere with mental health. Here are things that must be done and should be avoided for your mental health.

Healthy foods are synonymous with color, because they come from varying natural foods. These include fruits, vegetables, whole foods such as seeds and nuts, as well as protein rich. High-protein breakfast will give you energy throughout the day and for women, breakfast can also help your hormone health.

A balanced diet, according to social workers with a clinical mental health concentration, Tamieka Welish, MSW., reported by mghealth, Wednesday, April 10, a balanced diet affects mental health by increasing mood. This is partly due to serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate sleep and appetite, also mediates mood and inhibits pain.

It is important to understand that about 95 percent of serotonin is produced in the digestive tract. Research also found that those who consume a complete diet and are not overprocessed, have 25 percent to 35 percent lower depression rates.

Active movement or routine exercise is a'supplement' for brain health and mental well-being. Exercise provides detoxification and natural energy. By moving, it effectively reduces anxiety and depression by increasing blood circulation to the brain. It also gives stimulation to hypotalamus-adventional (HPA) which helps regulate stress responses. In addition to supporting mental health, regular exercise also has a positive impact on sleep.

Using social media, it may help you connect with loved ones, certain community groups, make online purchases, and more. On average, people around the world spend about 2.3 hours each day accessing social media. While accessing social media for too long, it is not beneficial for our mental health. Then reduce screen time so that, like research evidence, reduce anxiety and depression and improve overall well-being.

The imaging of functional magnetic resonances (fMRI) shows that reading stimulates the brain's neural pathway, builds empathy and connection, and increases cognitive function. Reading a book is also good for relaxing the body and reducing stress.

In addition to reading useful information, reduce negative thinking. The average person has tens of thousands of thoughts every day and many of them are negative. Writing a journal helps explore the inner world, mind, emotions, and behavior. By writing, you can explore and observe your negative thoughts.

Setting clear boundaries is not easy. But it is necessary to firmly say 'yes' or no' for things that cross boundaries. By making boundaries clear, you no longer sacrifice personal happiness for others.

In addition to the five habits that support the mental health above, it is also important to get quality sleep. Sleep is useful for increasing mood, keeping the mind sharp, and helping the health of metabolism and immunity.