Mastering the Three Pillars of Mental Health

April 7^th was World Health Day, an annual day that is dedicated to raising awareness of important health issues. In addition to the impact of COVID-19 on physical health, reports have revealed that over the last year the pandemic has also caused surges in mental health issues.

 

Focusing on our mental health is a good place to start in the challenge to reduce mental health issues, beginning with nurturing the three pillars of mental health:

 

Exercise

 

One of the best ways to combat stress and reduce anxiety is to regularly participate in some form of exercise. According to the Lancet Psychiatry Journal, people who exercise regularly have 1.5 fewer “bad days” per month compared to those who do not.

 

Making more time for exercise can help to give you a mental health boost, so try and find a way to exercise more often. This could be going for daily walks or buying some equipment for a home gym that you can use whenever you want.

 

Nutrition

 

Your diet is another pillar of your mental health, and eating a healthier, more balanced diet should help to improve your mood. You should aim to reduce foods and drinks that negatively impact your mental health. For example, too much caffeine can cause anxiety and alcohol is a depressant. Foods that are high in sugars, as well as processed foods and fatty foods, can all lead to bad moods, so plan your meals out to incorporate “feel good” foods such as lean meats, oily fish, oats and berries.

 

Maintaining a healthy diet will also help you to manage weight, which can also have a significant impact on your mental wellbeing. So, try pre-planning meals for the week, if this will help to avoid opting for a less healthy option.

 

Sleep

 

The third pillar of maintaining good mental health is getting enough quality sleep. The minimum amount of sleep you should be getting is between 7 and 9 hours for an adult. While some people can function on less sleep than the recommended amount, their mental health could be impacted as a result. Sleep disturbances are often one of the first signs of stress or anxiety and our bodies repair themselves while we sleep, both physically and mentally.

 

Getting into a good sleep pattern can help to improve your mental health, so you should try going to bed at the same time each day and avoid caffeine or using screens before bedtime. The better the quality of sleep you get, the more able you will be to deal with stress.

 

If you can master these three pillars of mental health, you have a really good foundation for maintaining healthy mental wellbeing. Whether you are trying to find a new exercise or workout routine that you will enjoy doing or want some nutritional advice, we are here to help.

 

We supply a huge range of exercise equipment to enable you to set up your home gym and start boosting your mental wellbeing. Find the right gym equipment at Fit4Home® for your journey to improved mental and physical wellbeing.