Let's face it. The latest developments in technology are nothing short of being amazing!
And often, we can't wait to get our hands on the latest “upgrades”!
But we have barely left the dealership and whatever we've bought has already declined in value... ”Because there is already a new development in progress yet again”...
Photo by Marcel Strauß on Unsplash
But, when are we going to recognize our own “awesomeness” and start looking after ourselves with the same enthusiasm and care it deserves? When are we going to start taking care of our personal functionality and abilities, in the same way, we do with our technological "gadgets"?
The human brain is the most extraordinary and complex object in the known universe! No computer is even a close match to our brains.
This 1.5 kilogram (3.3 pounds) of soft tissue is responsible for our reasoning, thought, emotions and movements.
It is devastating though when we see how the brain degenerates when people fall victim to conditions such as Alzheimer’s.
Yet, I still have some good news!
A healthy lifestyle is quite a regular and popular topic of discussion these days. And it's good to know that healthy lifestyle choices are not only good for the body, but also for the brain!
Mental Health Needs Physical Activity.
Photo by Gabin Vallet on Unsplash
We all know that physical activity is good for the body.
But did you know that physical activity is also good for the brain?
The brain and the body are constantly in communication. Physical activity causes muscles to release molecules that reach the brain and also increase blood circulation to the brain. This process causes new brain cells to form.
Living a physically active lifestyle helps to protect us against conditions such as Alzheimer’s and other similar diseases. It also helps to prevent conditions such as depression and other brain disorders.
We Need To Get Quality Sleep.
Getting enough sleep is not where it ends. We need to get quality sleep.
Our sleep patterns consist of 4 stages, and we need to reach stages 3 and 4 to get quality sleep. Being awake, the body is in a mode of “breaking down”. It is only when we reach stages 3 and 4 of our sleeping patterns that the building (or recovery) process starts taking place.
This is called the anabolic state.
On a physical level, this is actually when you benefit from that workout you had in the gym and when growth takes place.
In the same fashion, the brain also benefits from this. It has also been proven scientifically, that having a morning workout in the gym, leads to better sleep patterns at night.
Some effects due to a lack of quality sleep:
Lack of quality sleep can lead to lower alertness and concentration, making it difficult to pay attention, yet easy to get confused.
Lack of quality sleep impairs memory. Research shows that the nerve connections that make our memories are strengthened while we sleep. “If you’re not able to concentrate on what’s at hand, it’s not going to make it into your short-term memory and then long-term memory,” says Allison T. Siebern, Ph.D., a Fellow in the Insomnia and Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program at the Stanford University Sleep Medicine Centre.
Lack of quality sleep makes learning difficult because you can’t focus as well, so you can’t learn efficiently.
Lack of quality sleep also causes irritability and anger and makes it difficult to cope with stress. If these issues are not dealt with, it can lead to a way of life.
We Need To Be Mentally Active.
There are two rules which appear to be of cardinal importance for optimum brain functioning, and they are:
“use it or lose it” and
“Neurons that fire together wire together”.
Along with physical activity, mental awareness can help to "build in" a brain reserve and compensate for brain aging.
It is always a good idea to find activities that will be mentally stimulating, that you can take part in and enjoy, not only for the short term but for years to come.
We Need A Healthy Diet.
Yes, we all know it. A healthy diet is good for the body. But a good, healthy, and nutritious diet is also good for the brain.
Most nutrients circulate through your brain via the bloodstream. This directly improves the health of your brain cells and may even slow down brain aging.
The brain will also greatly benefit from body health via the heart and cardiovascular system, immune system, and other physiological systems.
We Are Not Supposed To Constantly Be Under Stress.
Our bodies are not designed to constantly be under stress.
Our modern lifestyles often lead to constant stress. We are rushing from one meeting to the next, meeting deadlines, etc. This can be toxic to the body.
There are many relaxation techniques being taught today, and even a good exercise program might be a good channel for getting rid of your stress levels.
Conclusion.
Mental health is much more than just the absence of mental illness.
A state of well-being is being able to cope with the stresses of life, work, and study. It is being effective in making a contribution to your family and to society.
It has a lot in common with physical fitness, as it needs some effort every day!
Would you like 6 tips on how to maintain your mental health?
Do a Google search, or better even, use PRESEARCH and earn some tokens in the process.
The reason why I recommend you do your own search/research is the fact that I believe the "one-size-fits-all" rule doesn't apply here.
I have done a couple of searches and I found a couple of posts contradicting one another.
Here are some examples:
Coffee: Some recommend no caffeine, while others recommend a cup of coffee in the morning. Personally, I used a lot of coffee some time ago and decided to cut it down until I was hardly using any coffee. After reading up about the advantages of coffee, I am currently making a point of having one to two cups of coffee per day.
Water: This was an interesting one. I found one post that recommended that you need to drink water equal to 50% of your body weight every day. Wow, to me, that doesn't make sense...that can end up being a lot of water... On average, the majority are recommending eight glasses of water per day. But I was pleasantly surprised that many of these posts also pointed out that it might differ from person to person. One thing that stood out though, is that the older you get (especially after 60), you should seriously consider forming a habit of drinking water on a regular basis. As you get older, you don't always consciously become thirsty, yet your body is still in need of that water.
Note: You might ask "what do coffee and water have to do with your mental health"?
You might be surprised to learn about the effect some of the physical stuff that forms part of our daily intake and diet, have on our mental well-being. It plays a role in both our physical and mental health.
Do you have any tips on how to get better sleep or how to improve your mental health?
Anything in particular that works for you? Please share it with us in the comment section. I am looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you for reading my post. I do appreciate it.