How much attention are you paying to your mental fitness?

Mental health is a term we hear a lot these days, but what does it actually mean? For me, mental health is a spectrum. From having the odd off day that we bounce back from easily enough at one end, to mental ill-health that may be affecting the quality of our daily life at the other. Wherever we may be on this spectrum at any given time, is there more we could all be doing to support our mental fitness?

We all know we should exercise and move our bodies daily to maintain our physical fitness, but how many of us pay the same attention to our mental fitness?

Maintaining optimal mental fitness is the cornerstone of our overall wellbeing. It helps build our resilience to cope with the stressors of everyday life, increases our ability to achieve our full potential, and enables us to gain more enjoyment out of life.

All of us experience ups and downs. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, problems at work or in our relationships, an overwhelming to-do list, or financial worries, the list goes on and this is a normal part of life. How we respond to these daily stressors is unique to all of us but I truly believe there is value in every single one of us giving our brains a little bit of TLC to help prevent these ups and downs from escalating to the extreme end of the spectrum. In the same way, we all have a body that will benefit from a physical workout, we all have a brain that will benefit from a mental workout.

 

And the good news?

Mental fitness is something we can all develop and improve. Just like maintaining our physical fitness, it’s just about finding what works for you, being consistent and committed. And the even better news is that there are many small changes you can implement that don’t cost a penny and can have a big impact.

 

So how do you build your mental fitness?

Mental health can be complex and there are a number of factors that may be at play, particularly at the extreme end of the spectrum. Whilst there is no one size fits all solution I believe there are 5 foundations for building and maintaining optimal mental wellbeing that can have significant benefits.

Nourish

The food we eat really can affect our mood including how we feel, think and behave. Our brain is a key organ, just like our heart. It is important we feed it well with adequate amounts of complex carbohydrates, essential fats, amino acids (from protein), vitamins and minerals and water in order for it to fire on all cylinders. If you put diesel in your petrol car, would you expect it to run like a dream?!

Move

We now know that exercise and movement are essential for maintaining our mental fitness as well as our physical health. You don’t need to be doing HIIT sessions at the gym every day to get the benefits. Why not start with a short walk in nature and see how it makes you feel?

Sleep

Sleep and mental wellbeing are inextricably linked. Poor sleep can exacerbate feelings of low mood, overwhelm and fatigue, whilst these same symptoms can in turn contribute to poor sleep. It’s a vicious cycle!

Connect

We are social beings. The survival of our ancestors was dependent on being part of a tribe and as such, having strong and supportive social relationships is essential for both our physical and mental wellbeing as well enhancing our enjoyment of life. Make time to truly connect with your favourite people.

Restore

Most of us are on the go from the moment we wake up to the moment we go to bed.  There is no doubting that our modern-day lives are busy, but it’s important to allow ourselves time out to switch off, recharge and destress. Dedicate time to something that brings you joy and allows you to restore.

Why not challenge yourself to try one small change under each of these foundations over the next week and notice the difference it can have on how you feel?

I will be delving into each of these foundations in more detail in future blogs so make sure you have subscribed to my weekly blog so you don’t miss out.