Do you think your habits are healthy? You may be trying to break some bad habits and probably know how difficult it is. Habits have the power to drastically alter our lifestyle and mood. While we should always strive to reduce our bad habits, it may be a good idea to first focus on developing some healthy ones.
Perhaps you’ve recently felt depressed or lost, or perhaps this is something you’ve been dealing with for a while. Still, you can improve your mood by developing some healthy habits. In fact, by watching this video and learning which habits to practice, you’re already taking a step toward happiness. So, here are nine mental health habits to help you develop some happy habits.
Number one, practice gratitude. Do you appreciate what you have? How often do you say it? If you replied, “Not very often,” you should reconsider practising gratitude. Why? According to one two-part study, practising gratitude can significantly impact our feelings of hope and happiness. That is, every meal should be treated as if it were Thanksgiving dinner. Hope College researchers discovered that gratitude predicts hope and happiness. So, expressing gratitude more frequently may lead to feelings of happiness.
Number two, give compliments. Did you know that complimenting someone can be extremely luis litt beneficial? In terms of your mood, at least. Participants in one study were randomly assigned to perform acts of kindness, novelty, or no act every day for ten days. Researchers assessed their level of happiness with life before and after the experiment. Performing acts of kindness or novelty increased overall life satisfaction, so go ahead and pass it on. A compliment can never hurt. In fact, it will almost certainly make you both happy.
Number three, experience and go with the flow. Have you heard the phrase “go with the flow”? We may have to follow that advice, albeit in a different way than intended. Flow is frequently experienced by happy people. Flow is a state in which one is completely immersed and absorbed in the present moment. This state is characterized by intense concentration, loss of self-consciousness, and a sense of timelessness. Sounds pretty happy, doesn’t it? It may be difficult to go with the flow if you don’t know what drives you to that emotional state, so take one step toward experiencing it more frequently: figure out what gets you there. Is it your passion that propels you forward? Spending time with your best friend? What is your favourite sport? Whatever it is, doing it more frequently is a good idea.
Number four, savour the little moments. Savouring the small moments in life is one habit that can keep you mentally happy. Many people believe that savouring is a good way to increase happiness. We can use our thoughts and actions to increase our appreciation for and duration of positive experiences and emotions. When we do this, we are savouring. To practice savouring, take an extra minute the next time you appreciate something small to consciously acknowledge and bask in it. Don’t let these opportunities pass you by. Keep an eye out for them.
Number five, exercise. Exercise helps to boost our self-esteem and happiness. Continuous exercise has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms, so it’s a good habit to develop. Begin with just five minutes in the morning. When that becomes a habit, add another five minutes. Continue doing so until you are at ease. The point is that it’s easier to start with a goal of five minutes per day than suddenly expect yourself to exercise an hour per day.
Number six, get enough sleep. Remember those seven to eight hours of sleep you’re supposed to get? What happened to them? Why are you leaving them? Sleep is essential for our mental health. Did you know that lack of sleep kills brain cells?
Furthermore, not getting enough Zs can impair our memory, judgment, and reaction time. So how are we supposed to be happy if we’re constantly exhausted? That is why it is best to commit to getting enough sleep each night. Try scheduling bedtime and removing distractions, such as phones, tablets, or video games, an hour before bed. This gives your mind a chance to relax.
Number seven, choose foods that improve your mood. Another good habit to develop is to eat nutritious foods that will make you happy in the long run. Carbohydrates are a happy food to include in your diet. Carbohydrates cause the release of serotonin, the key hormone responsible for mood stabilization and feelings of happiness. Avoid deep-fried foods, which have been linked to depression. Instead, choose high-protein foods like lean meat, poultry, and dairy. High-protein foods boost our energy and focus by releasing norepinephrine and dopamine.
Number eight, work towards meaningful goals. Do you have trouble getting out of bed in the morning? Are you unmotivated because you lack goals? Setting meaningful goals is one way to boost happiness. If we feel our lives are meaningless, we may experience depression. Pursuing something you are passionate about will provide you with the motivation to keep going. Then, as a first step, set several small goals. It’s something to look forward to because it’s focused on something we enjoy.
And number nine, experience nature. One study found that spending 30 minutes or more per week outside in nature can help lower blood pressure and depression. Another study discovered that going for a walk outside in a green environment improves our mood and reduces the number of negative thoughts we have. However, make sure to take your walks outside in nature, as those in the study who walked down city streets showed no benefits compared to those who walked in a natural environment. It appears that you will be adding a nature walk to your list of habits. Ooh, and You’ll also get your five minutes of exercise.
So, do you practice any of these behaviours? Which ones are you interested in? Please let us know in the comments section below. If you found this video useful, please click the Like button and share it with someone who might benefit from it. For more content like this, subscribe to BrainPill and click the notification bell icon. And, as always, thank you for tuning in.
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