4 Ways To Give Your Mental Health The Boost It Needs
With every new year comes well-meaning attempts to create a more healthy you. Diets, exercise, shiny new gym memberships, or the latest subscriptions to on-demand workouts. Except by now, most of you don’t use it. In fact, by now, you have given up making excuses. Now, don’t worry; there is no judgment here. I did it myself. I signed up for a new gym membership. For the first two months, I was as committed as anyone. Now, I haven’t even thought about it in more than two months.
For the most part, we think a lot about our physical health. Gyms, trainers, videos, endless internet searches for the latest trend in diets and workouts, and so much time and money spent on it all. What if we devoted that kind of time and energy to our mental health?
Mental Health Awareness Month may be behind us, but that doesn’t mean mental health is put on the shelf for another year. Let’s instead, build on the momentum. So, I want to leave you with something that has been bouncing around in my mind over the last few weeks.
But there is one advantage our physical health has over our mental health. Physical health issues do not possess the same stigma as mental health issues. Throughout the last several years, 1 in 5 U.S. adults experiences mental illness, yet few receive treatment. Why? Whether it’s self-imposed or cultural pressure, mental health struggles have a pervasive stigma. We shame ourselves into thinking that to struggle mentally is to appear weak and flawed—leading to increased amounts of depression, fear, and isolation.
The key is to begin seeing your mental health like you see your physical health. After all, our mental health originates in our brains—a part of our physical self. So our mental health is really just an extension of our physical health.
Get a Mental Workout Partner
If you have ever tried to exercise or pursue healthier eating habits, then you know that it’s nearly impossible. No, wait. It is impossible to do it alone. Sure, you might be successful for a couple of weeks, maybe even a month. But give it time, and the odds are not in your favor. You will get lazy, slip up, cheat, and make excuses.
Sustained progress requires a close-knit community. It requires accountability, competition, and motivation from others. In other words, you will inevitably need a kick in the pants, some encouragement, and someone to challenge you. It’s the only way to ensure progress happens.
Our mental health is really no different. Taking the necessary steps to improve our mental wellness is a great idea. But going at it alone ensures inevitable failure. Find a mental workout partner—someone who can encourage, challenge, and kick you every so often. Don’t worry; you can return the favor.
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Have a plan, create goals and track progress
In my youth, my friends and I spent hours each day in the gym. What 17-year-old football player isn’t obsessed with lifting weights? A crucial part of our progress was the proper workout, creating goals, and a constant record of our progress. Having a clear path and history of progress gives us real-time analysis, which results in greater motivation and improvement.
What if you approached your mental health the same way? What if you had a clear plan, path, and way to track your progress? You’ll likely see greater motivation and success in making mental health a priority.
Be patient
But I want to be as straightforward as possible here. There are no overnight solutions. Everyone has different body types and roadblocks to good physical health, and often specific instructions from a doctor—the same is true of your mental health. Take your time, consider your current state of mental health, and consult a trained professional if necessary.
But the point here is to give your mental health the priority it deserves. We spend copious amounts of time thinking about our food, money spent on gym memberships, and hours doing everything necessary to look good. Imagine what might happen if we spent that kind of time and energy working to think right.
Don’t Let the Stigma Own You.
It’s common in gym membership marketing to appeal to our need to feel comfortable and free of judgment. Because gyms free from meatheads and intimidation make it easier to show up every day and get the work done. Let’s face it, it’s hard when there are always people more muscular than you, thinner than you, and more fit than you. Why do you think gyms and fitness organizations spend so much time removing the barriers and the stigmas associated with getting in shape.
But there is a little secret most don’t tell you. The stigma is more often internal than external. And the same is true of our mental health. Getting our minds right is a powerful move in improving ourselves and our relationships with those around us. We should celebrate the work and the progress we make.
Last month was mental health awareness month. But just because the focus is over for the month doesn’t mean the work stops. In fact, it’s just beginning.
