Mental Health Awareness Month | Week 2 Blog by Dr. Sabina Mauro
In a busy world we often find ourselves focused on daily responsibilities, parenting, working, socializing, and sometimes just getting through the day. While these tasks are an important aspect of daily life, it is equally important to take care of our own mental health in day-to-day experiences to strengthen our mental wellness.
Prioritizing mental wellness is a crucial step to improved resilience, perspective, and overall quality of life. We can strengthen our mental wellness by taking action to implement practices that make a lasting positive change.
Here are some benefits of improved mental wellness and the actions that can be taken as we work towards strengthening our mental wellness.
- Ongoing self-improvement: This allows us to develop more awareness and insight about ourselves, including our thinking patterns, emotional states, and our behaviors.
- There is no shortage of resources, from books and blogs to podcasts and documentaries, that are available from diverse perspectives to fit almost all needs and aspirations.
- Improved mood: We are more likely to feel better about ourselves, not take things personally, become better at recognizing what impacts our mood, and be in better control at engaging in habits that boost our mood.
- Tracking your mood can help you understand mood patterns, identify mood related triggers, and develop proactive coping mechanisms to manage uncomfortable emotional states.
- Better outlook on life: We can experience a heightened sense of meaning and purpose in life by finding gratitude in difficult moments and learning to move forward from hardships.
- Practicing gratitude is a powerful intentional practice that encompasses mindfulness, awareness to our surroundings, and life experiences. The more we practice gratitude, the more we will be grateful for in life.
- Improved cognitive functioning: When we stimulate our cognitive functioning there is a noticed improvement in concentration, memory, and focus.
- Engaging in challenging activities like playing chess, doing puzzles, and completing sudoku can sharpen and strengthen our cognitive functions.
- Healthier relationships: When we choose to maintain relationships that help us grow it allows us to live more fulfilling life.
- Creating appropriate boundaries within relationship circles allows us to prioritize individual needs and protect our personal mental wellness.
- Limiting and reducing social media exposure can foster stronger real-life connections, creating deeper and more meaningful relationships, and help maintain a strong support network.
- Mind-Body Connection: We develop a deeper connection with ourselves and have a better understanding how the mind and body work together.
- A quick body scan allows us to bring attention to different parts of our body, helping us to notice different sensations and allowing us to engage in practices that help reduce tension.
- Meditation practices simultaneously provide mental and physical conection for improved physical health outcomes.
Take a few minutes more to reflect on the benefits and actions above. What benefits would you like to experience and how can you implement the actions noted to reach the desired benefit? What other actions could you take to to reach the same benefit?
Stay tuned to learn how we can embrace our mental health!
