Small Steps To Mental Wellness

Small Steps To Mental Wellness

Written by

Samridhi Yadav

The concept of a balanced life is a rather alien concept to most. We hustle throughout our lives, where stress is often synonymous with surviving. In this circus of life, we usually focus on being the dancing monkey instead of stepping back once in a while, and enjoying the show. 

It has become almost impossible for people to balance the scales, be it work-life balance, personal-professional balance or be it school/college-life balance.

life balance

As stated by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, good mental health translates to good physical health. But for someone who works 9 to 5, the time to actively work on their mental or physical health may seem like a Herculean task. What if we told you that there are ways to ensure your mental well-being for a healthy life?

In conversation with Jasdeep Mago, a neuropsychologist and the CEO of Invisible Illness, and Arouba Kabir, a counselling psychologist, and founder of Enso Wellness, we tried to ponder upon the true meaning of mental wellness and how a working professional can achieve it through small steps of self-care.

What is Mental Wellness?

What is Mental Wellness

Jasdeep explains, “we see people taking care of their physical illness or health probably because the signs are pretty obvious but they often neglect their mental state as the signs for that aren’t that obvious and go unnoticed.”

According to psychologist Arouba “Mental wellness is a positive attribute of one’s overall health. It refers to a state which isn’t just a lack of a mental illness but a state wherein one's mind is in sync with their body and both function together to establish holistic wellness.”  So essentially, it's a harmonious ballet between the mind and the body.

Is mental wellness just about emotional well-being?

Emotions undoubtedly play a significant part, but there are other factors also involved. Thinking, analysing, judging, and executive decision-making abilities, as well as the ability to use language and communication skills, are all aspects of mental health. The term "mental well-being" refers to all cognitive abilities. Again, everything circles back to creating a balance.

self care

Is there a one-step guide to achieving a state of mental well-being?

To save you some time, No. Different things work for different people. However, according to Mago, one can follow a few steps which can make the work easy for you. 

  1. Talk about your feelings and emotions. Have a strong support system who you can talk your heart out to, laugh along and spend a good amount of quality time with. 
  2. Find a healthy daily routine - eat, sleep, walk on time, and add to it a daily activity that grounds you, like yoga, meditation chanting, painting, running.
  3. Another essential thing is to keep your vitamins in check, especially D3 and B12. Low levels of these can cause symptoms like constant fatigue, tiredness, low mood, low motivation and lack of interest in anything.

state of mental

Everybody experiences adversity. However, there are times when negative thoughts give rise to unpleasant feelings that can cause more than just the ups and downs that most people occasionally go through. These unpleasant emotions can then cause sadness, anxiety, avoidance, and problematic thinking. It's critical to take action if these symptoms are having a negative influence on your life or the life of a loved one. So, don’t be afraid to reach out - for help and to help!

If you or someone you love is struggling with their mental health, please reach out for help. You can book a session with licensed therapists from our mental health experts, MindPeers right here.

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