How Lifestyle Choices Shape Your Mental Well-Being

“The way you live has a profound influence on your mental health.” You might have heard or read this phrase from somewhere but have you actually paid attention to it? In any case, the knowledge of how lifestyle factors influence or impact the mental health of someone can help you as an individual to filter out the bad practices from the good ones. It is also true that factors like environment or genetics play a role in mental health, but the impact of lifestyle factors can not be ignored.

In this article, you will learn about the connections between lifestyle factors and mental health and how a small change can have a profound impact on one’s well-being.

5 common lifestyle factors that impact your Mental well-being

Lifestyle encompasses various aspects that affect one’s mental health. These aspects include diet, physical activity, sleep quality, social connections, and stress management, which are discussed as follows:

1. Dietary habits and Mental health:

You might be surprised to know that the food we eat can have a profound effect on one's mental health. Look to consume a diet that is rich in essential nutrients and vitamins for a healthy brain and for emotional well-being. For example, Vitamin B12 and folate supplements combined play a huge role in regulating and maintaining good mental health. Add foods like fatty fish, leafy green vegetables, and whole grains to your diet to have better mental health outcomes. Below is a dietary table that features nutrients and foods that will help you develop better and more resilient mental health.

Category	Foods
Omega-3 Fatty Acids	Fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines), walnuts, chia seeds, flaxseeds
B Vitamins	Whole grains, leafy greens, eggs, legumes
Antioxidants	Berries (For example, blueberries, strawberries), dark chocolate, nuts
Complex Carbohydrates	Sweet potatoes, quinoa, whole grain bread
Probiotics	Yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi
Lean Protein	Chicken, turkey, tofu, lentils, beans
Leafy Greens	Spinach, kale, broccoli, Swiss chard
Nuts and Seeds	Almonds, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds
Citrus Fruits	Oranges, grapefruits, lemons, limes
Herbal Teas	Chamomile tea, green tea, peppermint tea

2. Physical activity and mental Health:
Contrary to the notion, physical activities not only improve your physical health but also your mental health. Did you know that physical activities help to release a chemical known as endorphins that induces a good feeling in our brain? This chemical has been known to reduce stress and improve mood. Be it a simple walk, a yoga session or playing outdoor games, any physical activity done will help to boost the mental health of the individual.

3. Sleep and Mental healt

Sleep might be the most common lifestyle factor that impacts mental health in a negative way. A person that does not follow a proper sleep pattern or hour is most vulnerable to falling into stress, anxiety, and depression. To overcome the problem of mental health that arise from sleep depravity, one can follow some tips as listed below:

●     Establish a proper sleep schedule.

●     Create a calming bedtime routine.

●     Ensure a healthy and comfortable sleep environment.

Sleep replenishes your physical health as well as mental health to make you ready for your next day's activity. So, quality sleep should be the number one priority for people to enjoy life without stress.

 4. Social connections and mental health:
As you know, humans are social animals, and they can not live well alone. A sense of social relationship provides emotional support, reduces the feeling of loneliness and enhances the overall well-being of the individual. So it becomes mandatory to nurture a connection with your friends, family and community members for resilient and better mental health.

For Example, If you are someone who remains stressed out often and can’t focus on your daily activities, you can perform a social experiment. You just have to sit down in front of a person that you feel will listen to your problems and discuss them. Yes, as simple as this. At the end of the session, you will feel light and stress-free as compared to your previous self. This is even proved right in scientific papers that sharing your problems with someone you know reduces the chance of falling into the well of never-ending stress and depression.

5. Stress management and Mental health:

Stress is a very common illness that has plagued the very society humans live in. It is often seen that due to embarrassment, people often hesitate to take help to cure this very illness. It is often seen that people do not pay close attention to mental health illnesses and are of the opinion that they will go away eventually. But this is not true; in the case of chronic stress, the best option that you can exercise is to seek the help of psychological and counselling services. Also, developing effective stress management techniques is crucial for maintaining emotional balance. Some of the practices that you can inculcate in your daily life to manage stress are as follows:

●     Mindfulness practices

●     Relaxation exercises

●     Time management strategies

●     Self care activities

So, by opting for stress reduction, you can create a healthier mental and emotional environment for yourself.

Final Words!

At last, it is crucial to have the information as to how your lifestyle can impact your mental health. You can beat the menace of mental illness only by making constant efforts to improve the factors discussed above. Keep in mind that stress remedies take time, and they should be dealt with patience and help from your close one or a professional expert. Small changes in your daily habits can lead to a significant improvement in your mental health. Be it to consume a well balanced diet or to sleep enough, these small and insignificant looking changes can prove to be a breather for you. 

So do not leave the mental illness for time to cure; rather, seek help from the people you trust and look up to. By doing so, you can make sure that you are not alone in the battle against a disease that has cost dearly to many!