Mental wellness is defined as “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.” Too many people wait to take care of their mental health when it becomes a problem. Rather than staying on top of their mental wellness, they wait to address things when they need to “fix it,” and feel better.
There are many things we can all do to maintain mental wellness and stay on top of our wellbeing on a daily basis. It is too common to not prioritize mental wellness and wait until stress, being overwhelmed, and other negative feelings are being experienced. You can preemptively mange your mental wellness by making sure to do things to help build and maintain mental wellness and not only address mental health when it’s a problem.
WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO PREEMPTIVELY MANAGE OUR MENTAL WELLNESS
Our reactions to events are heavily influenced by our baseline mood. The more stressed you are and the more you are generally feeling low leads to higher sensitivity and reactivity. You are more prone to being triggered into negative emotions and are more easily irritated and frustrated. Doing things to raise your baseline will help you be less triggered. This ultimately leads to experiencing less negative emotions and feeling a more overall sense of satisfaction and happiness.
The other piece is that it is very difficult to calm down from intense emotions. Once you are already emotionally reactive, it’s harder to think clearly, act, and regulate the emotion. Think about it: what’s it like when you are feeling stressed, overwhelmed, depressed, or anxious? It can feel paralyzing, hopeless, and like you don’t know how to proceed. By taking care of your mental wellness preemptively, you are taking care of yourself when you are calm and feeling in control and capable of handling things.
The bottom line is that it is extremely beneficial to take care of your mental wellness on a regular basis. Don’t wait until you have to fix a problem, manage stress, regulate your anxiety, etc. When you do so, the experience of stress and negative emotions is less intense. It also becomes less often because you are less easily triggered. This leads to a more happy and satisfied life.
SO WHAT ARE THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF MENTAL WELLNESS?
- Self-care: Staying on top of your physical well-being. Balanced eating, sleep, and exercise are all vital to mental wellness. This also includes keeping up with doctors’ appointments, taking care of yourself when you are sick, and making informed, health choices around substances.
- Mindfulness: Living in the present moment, without judgements. A lot of stress and anxiety could be avoided by staying in the here and now rather than ruminating over past regrets or future worries. Being mindful means focusing on what you are doing at the present. It’s about paying attention to our thoughts, feelings, and body sensations without judging them as right or wrong, good or bad. To learn more about how to be mindful click here.
- Pleasant events: It is important to make time for things we enjoy and to have fun. There can be so many things on our to do list, but without taking a break, you will burn out. Therefore, it is vital to balance our responsibilities with relaxation and fun on a daily basis. Each day, allot time for pleasant events and do something you enjoy and/or find relaxing.
- Confidence: Our self-esteem greatly impacts how we feel and act. Doing things each day that make you feel confident, competent, and capable will help you build and maintain high self-esteem. This can be anything like learning a skill or getting a task done, as long as you end feeling accomplished and good about yourself.
- Meaning: It is human nature to strive for meaning in our lives. Meaning can be found in many different ways; it is dependent on each individual. Meaning is about feeling a sense of purpose and serving something outside of ourselves. This is based off values and priorities. Get clear on what your values are and what gives you meaning. Then find ways to implement those things into your life each day.
- Connection: It is also human nature to want connection to others. This is about making time regularly to build and maintain your relationships with others.
Make time daily to focus on your mental wellness. Create a routine for yourself where all of the above building blocks are accounted for. Prioritize your mental wellness and don’t wait until it is a problem!
Even when you take care of your mental wellness regularly, stress can still pop in. Fill your coping skills toolbox and be prepared to handle whatever comes your way. Download your free stress management guide here.
Alyssa Mairanz, LMHC, DBTC
Alyssa Mairanz provides counseling and therapy services for life transitions, relationship issues, self esteem, depression, anxiety, and DBT and Psychodynamic therapy in a NYC group practice in the Flatiron District near Madison Square Park. She also serves the Village, Chelsea, Union Square, the Financial District and the surrounding areas.
Empower Your Mind Therapy’s mission is to helps our clients build the life they want and find more happiness and satisfaction.
