A healthy mind is just as important as a healthy body, but sometimes we can forget just how important it is to form habits that ensure that you are happy, confident, and secure. We all understand that we should eat well and get plenty of exercise, but what can we do to make sure that we are emotionally strong, resilient, and content, as well as physically healthy?
Benefits of Positive Mental Habits
The American Journal of Psychology defines a “habit, from the standpoint of psychology, as a more or less fixed way of thinking, willing, or feeling acquired through previous repetition of a mental experience.” Positive mental habits lead to good mental health, thus enabling us to learn, reason, interact, produce, face difficulties, and put our best face on things. Some positive mental habits include –
- Mindfulness – the ability to regulate and control our attention—what we choose to focus on—is arguably the most valuable skill you can have for avoiding depression, anxiety, and many other mental health issues
- Assertiveness – the ability to directly and respectfully ask for what you want—and set boundaries on what you do not want—is key to building self-confidence and living your life according to your values rather than other people’s wishes.
Toxic Mental Habits
The way you think affects how you feel and how you behave. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that even one bad mental habit may hold you back greatly. Some ways to break toxic mental habits may include –
- Creating behavioral experiments to challenge your self-limiting beliefs
- Replace victim language with statements that empower you instead
- Practice self-compassion
- Behave like the person you want to become
Essential Mental Habits for 2021
Some essential and powerful mental health habits to bring or work on during the new year include –
- Organizing yourself by shifting your focus from the coronavirus to your own health. Instead of worrying about the virus, work towards improving your wellbeing – mentally and physically – through exercise, hobbies, and anything that brings you joy.
- Be close to nature. Since 2020 was filled with lockdowns at home, rarely did we get to enjoy the true happiness nature brings to us. Try to spend some time in a garden or at a park.
- Make a list of things you are grateful for every single day. You never know what can slip right through your fingers.
- Work on self-compassion. Do not beat yourself up over other people who were able to accomplish things you could not during the pandemic. Each person has their own capabilities and resources.
To say 2020 was harsh on people would be a great understatement. The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed millions of lives all over the world. It not only affected people physically, but mentally as well, which is why it is so important to work on improving our mental habits for the coming year.