Most of us have busy lives where we’re juggling the demands of work, school, family, and household chores. With so much to do, it’s easy for your mental health to end up on the back burner. But caring for your mental health is just as important as caring for your physical health.
The first year of recovery is when you’re most vulnerable to relapse, so you want to make your mental health a top priority.
By cutting out the following five bad habits, you can exponentially improve your mental well-being. Cutting out your bad habits is especially important if you recently completed drug rehab – here in Agoura Hills, California, or any other part of the country or world!
1. A Sedentary Lifestyle
It’s fine to spend some days on the couch watching TV and napping. But if you become a couch potato every day, things need to change. Research shows that a sedentary lifestyle hurts mental health, raising the risk for depression, anxiety, and chronic stress.
Work on incorporating more activity into your daily routine. Exercise provides many health benefits, and it can help you fight stress. Keep in mind that you’re not limited to cardio workouts at the gym. You can swim, practice yoga, take a kickboxing class, etc.
2. Too Much Time on Social Media
Research has also turned up another fact: people who spend excessive time on social media are at higher risk for depression, anxiety, loneliness, self-harm, and even suicidal thoughts. There are many reasons for this, including that social media may promote negative experiences, such as insecurities about your life.
Experts recommend spending no more than 30 minutes on social media each day. Doing this can lead to improved outcomes and better mental health.
3. Not Practicing Self-Care
Good mental health happens when you take care of yourself. It’s hard to make good decisions when you’re sleep-deprived and feeling unwell. Commit to care for your mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health by doing the following:
- Eating a well-balanced diet
- Exercising daily
- Getting enough rest
- Going to your appointments
- Practicing gratitude
- Spending time with others
- Making time for hobbies
4. Not Dealing with Your Emotions
Bottling up your emotions is harmful to your mental and physical health. Feelings don’t just go away over time. Instead, they can ‘live’ in the body and surface in unhealthy ways. This is why some people have problems with anger, anxiety, depression, and memory loss.
Not acknowledging your feelings makes them stronger, not weaker. To process your emotions healthily, talk to a friend, family member, or therapist. You can also write in a journal, practice breathing exercises, or do yoga.
5. Putting Others’ Needs Before Your Own
To have healthy relationships, it’s important to consider the needs of others. However, when you neglect your own needs to appease someone else, you start going down an unhealthy path that can lead to codependency.
Building healthy relationships starts with setting boundaries, practicing good communication, and rediscovering your passions. If you’re struggling with this, talk to a therapist.
By eliminating these five bad habits, you can improve your mental health and strengthen your recovery. For further support or in the Agoura Hills, California area, contact Awakenings Treatment Center today.
