One misconception about mental wellness is that it’s all about the mind, thoughts, and feelings, when in reality, it affects our entire well-being. It impacts how we feel, think, and act in everyday life. It influences our ability to build relationships, overcome difficulties, cope with stress, and recover from setbacks in life.
People with good mental health tend to have a better sense of contentment, high self-esteem, and balance between play and work. And in bad times, they are also able to remain productive, flexible, and focused. Whether you’re looking to bring in more positivity in your life or manage your emotions better, you should first take control of your mental health. But to make that happen, you need to get rid of the bad habits affecting your mental wellness.
1. Perfectionism
Perfection is often viewed as a positive and impressive quality. But did you know that it can actually result in self-defeating behaviors and thoughts? Being a perfectionist also makes you more vulnerable to depression, anxiety, stress, and other mental health problems. Researchers also found that while perfectionism isn’t recognized as a mental illness, it has been linked to other serious health issues such as eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and personality disorder.
Signs of perfectionism include not seeing a task as completed until it got a perfect result, not getting work done unless it can be performed perfectly, and taking an excessive amount of time to finish a task. To overcome perfectionism, you can practice realistic thinking and rewarding yourself.
2. Poor self-care
Neglecting self-care is a serious habit that can badly impact your mental and physical health. Apart from the mindfulness and emotion management practices, keep in mind that having better physical health is also vital for your mental wellness. One example of a self-care habit that’s often overlooked is taking care of your teeth and mouth. Some forget to visit their dentist routinely, while others are just too lazy to floss or brush their teeth regularly. Make it a habit to check for dental problems, and visit your dentist to get a proper oral surgery or dental procedure.
Other self-care habits to focus on include eating healthy, staying active, journaling, taking a break, deep breathing, and meditating. Keep your body healthy and happy, and your mental wellness will be the same.
3. Co-dependency
According to researches, co-dependency can influence an individual’s ability to create and cherish a healthy and positive relationship. Experts claim that co-dependency is actually a learned behavior that families pass down through generations. If you are codependent, you might have a struggle in building quality relationships and life.
Some signs of co-dependency include difficulty in expressing emotions, inability to set boundaries or say no, low self-esteem, and reacting to small incidents with strong emotions. If you have these symptoms, getting professional treatment is totally helpful.
4. Rehashing bad events
Another bad habit that’s quite hard for many to avoid is thinking about stressful or bad events in their lives. According to behavioral studies and experts, ruminating about stressful events can increase depressive symptoms. In general, it is not good for your mental and psychological well-being.
Health experts also suggest that avoiding such habits can ease a depressed mood. So, rather than rehashing bad events, whether they happened minutes or years ago, put your energy into the positives, such as enjoying the moment or being grateful for what you have.
5. Careless spending
For some individuals, impulse buying during online shopping or at the grocery store makes them feel better. However, that is only for a short time. Spending your money carelessly can lead to harmful effects not just on your bank account but also on your mental health. According to numerous studies, financial issues can lead to mental health problems. Some studies even found that individuals who commit suicide are likely to be in debt.
While financial problems are not scientifically proven to contribute to a mental illness, there’s no doubt that things like debt can result in great stress. A high level of stress isn’t obviously good for your overall health and wellness. Get your finances in order and limit your spending.
Good mental well-being is not totally the absence of challenging situations, negative feelings, and thoughts but the absence of bad daily habits. Getting rid of things that hinder you from maintaining positive relationships, working productively, living creatively, and feeling confident about yourself will eventually help strengthen your resilience. Be mindful of how you respond and your habits to achieve a better sense of mental clarity and even physical wellness.
