While we frequently focus on poor habits like eating fast food, smoking, or not exercising, we seldom ever consider the potential effects these bad habits may have on our mental health.
Some unhealthy behaviors can hurt your mental health just as some bad habits can harm your physical health. For instance, these practices can make you more likely to experience melancholy or make you experience greater anxiety or tension.
“Modern life is not good for mental health.” – Jean Twenge, sociologist
THESE COMMON HABITS HURT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
Here is a list of fifteen terrible behaviors that affect your mental health yet which we all have. To live a happy life, make these small changes to your daily habits.
1. POOR EATING HABIT
The relationship between food and our psychological health is being revealed by the area of nutritional psychology. Consuming a lot of processed foods, such as cookies, chips, bread, etc., for instance, greatly increases the risk of depression.
This also involves eating too little or too much, not getting enough of the nutritious nutrients we need daily, or consuming an excessive amount of foods and beverages that are heavy in fat, sugar, salt, and/or fat substitutes.
Therefore, if you suffer from depression, changing your diet alone may provide some help. Eat more fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, seafood, healthy fats like olive oil, and other minimally processed foods (the “Mediterranean diet”), according to recommendations.
2. BUYING STUFF WE DON’T NEED
We are readily swayed by the behaviors of others around us, and tragically, many of us make unnecessary purchases either out of habit or in an effort to fill a hole in our lives. More “things” can never make you happy, studies have repeatedly proved. In actuality, acquiring an excessive amount of stuff we don’t need can lead to tension and stress. According to research, purchasing experiences rather than material goods might make individuals happier because they relate to them on a deeper level.
3. LACK OF EXERCISE
Our waistlines, hearts, and, it turns out, our mental health are all negatively impacted by a sedentary lifestyle. Exercise should be thought of as “nature’s mood booster,” nevertheless.
Through the release of endorphins and other “feel good” chemicals, the suppression of immune system chemicals that exacerbate depression, and an increase in body temperature that has a soothing effect, regular exercise may help those with depression. Regular exercise may also boost your self-esteem, help you deal with stress in a healthy way, enhance your social interactions, and divert your attention from problems.
Exercise infrequently or not at all, work out until you’re exhausted, have poor technique, and just do one type of exercise are all negative exercise habits that might have an impact on your mental health.
4. SEARCHING FOR PERFECTIONISM
Being a perfectionist is a good habit. However, when your pursuit of perfection takes a bad turn, it may amplify worry, tension, and undermine your sound limits. It’s simple to become lost when we have no guidelines on how to get there and are completely focused on being flawless. To turn your perfectionism in a constructive direction, try practicing mindfulness.
5. NOT GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP
Sleep is essential for our mental health, at the risk of sounding repetitive. forming bad sleeping habits, such as sleeping all morning, taking naps, and then having trouble falling asleep at night.
Lack of sleep has a way of making you realize how important getting a decent night’s sleep is. You guessed it: sleep deprivation and anxiety or depression are closely related. Although we must get adequate sleep in order to operate, sleep isn’t given much importance in contemporary life.
Make sure you receive seven or more hours of restful sleep every night. Make changes to your sleeping environment, establish a sleep schedule, and learn relaxation techniques. Your physical and mental health will appreciate it.
6. OVERUSING SMARTPHONES AND TECHNOLOGY
It should come as no surprise that as mobile technology grew, so did the number of mental health issues. According to studies, persons who use social media often are more prone to experience depression.
Because there weren’t as many distractions available to them before cellphones, individuals would converse more frequently and in-depthly face to face. We are less present and conscious in the actual world nowadays since there are more distractions available to us. We are less connected to ourselves and others around us as a result of our always-connected society. Unfortunately, there is an epidemic of anxiety and despair as a result of this separation between ourselves and reality.
7. TOO MUCH SOCIAL MEDIA
Teenagers’ excessive use of social media is raising their anxiety and hurting their self-esteem. Adults are not exempt from the negative effects of social media use on mental health. A poll of 1500 adult Facebook and Twitter users revealed that 62% of respondents felt insufficient, and 60% of respondents experienced jealously when compared themselves to other social media users. Only utilizing these two social media platforms, according to 33% of respondents, made them feel lonely.
Our mental health may be endangered if we use too many social media platforms. Multiple social media platforms are linked in studies to a higher risk of anxiety and depression.
The current state of the news might be overpowering and unduly depressing. While it’s vital to keep up with current events and learn how to keep yourself and loved ones safe, try to cut back on your daily news viewing and total screen time.
8. CONSTANT PROCRASTINATION
Procrastination, whether it be called that, doing tasks later, or taking a break, is not your friend. It’s simple to attribute it to worry, weariness, or any other occurrence. However, putting off necessary tasks will just increase your worry and anxiety when the deadline approaches.
Poor time management may have a variety of negative effects on both our personal and professional lives. Find strategies to incorporate time management best practices into your daily activities to overcome procrastination.
9. ISOLATING AND STAYING IN BED ALL DAY
Even if we may not be aware of it, withdrawing from everyone, locking ourselves in our rooms, skipping days of showering, neglecting our chores, feeling guilty, and simply waiting for the day to pass all aggravate our mood and sadness.
Isolating myself when I’m in a “mood” so that no one else has to deal with me. When you’re constantly “in a mood” and never spend time with the people who could help you get out of it, this is unhealthy. Jennifer Y.
10. SPENDING LITTLE TIME OUTDOORS
Just as it’s simple to sit all day, it’s also simple to spend whole days indoors. The vital mineral Vitamin D, which among other things supports your immune system and mood regulation, is less present in your body when you don’t get enough sunshine.
Being outside, especially in natural settings like parks, has been linked to better mental health. Additionally, it may be a good approach to de-stress and take pleasure in interacting with new individuals.
After lunch, go outside for a little stroll. As you take in the sights, sounds, and fragrances and feel your body move, keep your attention on the experience.
11. COMPARING YOURSELF TO OTHERS
Since everyone on social media posts their life’s highlights, it’s simple to constantly compare yourself to others. Before you realize it, you’re questioning every choice you make because you constantly contrasting your achievements with those of others. One will spend time scrolling through social media sites like Instagram and Facebook, continually comparing his life to that of others who are on vacation or engaging in enjoyable activities.
Forget about the highlights; keep in mind that few people divulge the details of their experiences. Imposter syndrome should be avoided since it can negatively affect our mental health and self-image.
12. LIVING IN CLUTTER
We keep our minds in muddle when there is mess all around us. There’s a good reason why some individuals enjoy cleaning up; it genuinely helps them to relax greatly.
If you put off cleaning up the mess, you could experience significant tension.
Stress is brought on by feeling “out of control,” having disagreements with loved ones over what is and isn’t clean, and having a physical depiction of an underlying condition.
To start the next day in a neat and peaceful setting, set aside some time every evening to clean and disinfect.
13. KEEPING TOXIC RELATIONSHIPS
Although we may not always think of our relationships in terms of mental health, they are. People who remain in unhealthy relationships frequently ignore their own mental health and concentrate only on the other party.
Whether we realize it or not, most abusive and sabotaging relationships are loaded with both. Try letting go of toxic individuals when you’re ready to move on and begin putting your mental health first. Don’t assume that toxic connections just exist in person; be sure to unfollow problematic users from your social media accounts as well.
14. OVERINDULGING ON ALCOHOL
15. NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO OUR POSTURE
More than only your spine’s health and general wellness are harmed by improper posture. Having a good posture is associated with less signs of depression. According to the same study, those with better posture had better moods and self-perceptions.
When our body is in alignment, everything functions as it should, which lessens weariness and improves our mood.
