We are often keenly sensitive to our surroundings, and events like losing a loved one, breakups, and even finding a new favorite takeaway item can influence our moods and minds. While we often try our best to stay upbeat and in sync with life’s changes, there are times we do things that can hurt our mental well-being without even realizing it.
While opting to temporarily disconnect and seek support at a mental health retreat can be a rejuvenating experience, it is still crucial to identify actions that are not serving any benefits and work on eliminating them. This becomes important if your schedule is often jam-packed and you still aim to work on your mental well-being. Know that often, these actions or activities are what we are conditioned to believe in, and being open-minded to identify and resolve them will be the key.
5 habits that sabotage your mental health:
1. Not Taking Care of the Clutter
The overflowing cupboard, papers overflowing from the drawers, and cardboard boxes from deliveries lying around may seem harmless. Still, they have a significant impact on the brain and, eventually, our psychological well-being.
Clutter in the home can sabotage your mental health, as the brain craves order. The constant sight of disorganized belongings can be mentally draining, making it feel like focusing on anything becomes an endless challenge.
Swiftly acting and taking care of the clutter (by organizing or discarding it) is the most effective way to prevent it from hampering your mental health.
2. Eating an Imbalanced Diet
A healthy and well-balanced diet nourishes the body. It also helps us think clearly and not tire out, regardless of how rigorous the day has been.
An insufficient or highly processed diet, on the other hand, can lead to fatigue and, if not checked, can cause excessive stress and anxiety. Maintaining a balanced diet is always recommended, as it ensures that the body gets all the nutrients, minerals, and vitamins required for the proper functioning of the brain and the body.
In fact, combining conscious eating habits and a robust exercise regime will ensure you are in good shape and healthy. If you are unsure where to start, observing your food habits and cravings for a week can help you understand underlying patterns.
3. Erratic Sleep Schedule
Sleep is essential for the human body. It allows the brain and body to recover and repair from the physical and mental hardships of the day. Irregular sleep habits can occasionally be harmless, but turning them into a regular practice will have negative effects on overall health.
At the same time, poor sleep quality can sabotage your mental health. Inadequate sleep patterns reduce brain activity, making it difficult to control emotions, make decisions, and solve problems efficiently. Sleep deficiencies are also linked to increased risk-taking behaviors, depression, and mood swings.
4. Comparing Yourself
Comparing oneself to others can steal one’s happiness while making one feel insufficient. It can even contribute to anxiety, depression, and shame and make a person feel envious, alongside tarnishing one’s self-worth and confidence.
Instead, recognizing instances where you compare yourself to others and potential triggers can help tackle underlying issues, enabling you to live a happy and fulfilling life.
Aside from this, reminding yourself that every person has their strengths and weaknesses while working toward accepting who you are will help limit such tendencies.
5. Bottling Up Emotions and Feelings
Ever felt immensely frustrated but kept quiet instead of finding constructive ways to let go? Bottling up emotions is a common way to sabotage your mental health. While it may feel like you’re in control, it ultimately leads to anxiety and worry.
In some cases, people also end up developing unhealthy coping mechanisms that take the shape of eating or mood disorders. Speaking your mind and finding ways to channel your emotions will be immensely beneficial.
Bottomline
Whether it’s comparing yourself to a classmate from high school or ignoring how you feel after waking up, we often sabotage your mental health in small, unnoticed ways. However, by recognizing these patterns and making conscious efforts to change, you can improve both your mental health and overall wellness.
