Our habits and mental health are closely linked. Healthy actions help promote a sound body and mind. Destructive ones undermine both physical and mental health. Understanding these connections can help us to maintain will power as we seek to make positive changes in our lives.
When we recognize correlations between our actions and our wellbeing, it becomes easier to stay motivated and take proactive steps to create healthier habits and improve our mental health. Read on to find out more.
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” – Aristotle
How Destructive Habits Affect Mental Health
Bad habits can take a toll on our mental health in various ways.
For instance, smoking, excessive drinking or overeating might offer temporary comfort, but they can lead to long-term harm.
Behaviors like these often create a cycle of guilt and shame, which can worsen our mental state.
When we feel bad about our habits, it can lead to stress and anxiety, making it even harder to break the cycle.
It can drain also our energy and motivation.
When we spend time on unhealthy behaviors, we often neglect activities that are good for our mental health like exercising, socializing or our hobbies.
This can lead to feelings of depression and isolation, further harming our mental well-being.
Learn More About the Power of Habits
The Impact of Poor Mental Health on Habits
Just as bad habits can negatively impact mental health, poor mental health can also lead to the development of bad habits.
When we are stressed, anxious, or depressed, we might turn to unhealthy behaviors as a way to cope.
For example, someone feeling overwhelmed might start smoking more frequently or eating unhealthy food to find temporary relief.
Mental health issues can also make it more challenging.
Conditions like depression and anxiety often sap our motivation and energy, making it difficult to muster the willpower needed to change.
This creates a vicious cycle where bad habits and poor mental health feed into each other, making both issues worse over time.
How to Break the Cycle
Understanding the link between negative behaviors and mental health is the first step toward breaking the cycle.
To make positive changes, it’s important to address both the behaviors themselves and the underlying mental health issues.
One effective approach is to develop healthier coping mechanisms. Try to find healthier ways to manage stress and emotions.
This could include activities like exercising, meditating, or talking to a friend. Hypnosis therapy has also been shown to be very effective.
These activities can improve our state of mind and make it easier to break free from negative behaviors.
Improving mental health also requires us to take care of our overall well-being.
We need to get enough sleep, eat nutritious food, and engage in regular physical activity. These practices can boost mood and energy levels, making it easier to make positive changes.
When to Seek Support
We often require support when we try to stop destructive behaviors. Don’t hesitate to reach out to friends, family or professionals for help.
Talking about your struggles with someone you trust can provide comfort and encouragement, and professional support like therapy or counselling can offer valuable tools and strategies.
Thank you as always for reading.
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Joan Senio is the founder of KindCompassCoach. Joan’s career includes clinical healthcare plus 20+ years as an executive in a nationwide health care system and 15 years as a consultant. The common threads throughout Joan’s personal and professional life are a commitment to non-profit organizations, mental health, compassionate coaching, professional development and servant leadership. Joan has had the privilege of mentoring early and mid-career professionals as well as current and future executives and leaders. She is a member of the International Organization of Life Coaches, serves as a thought-leader for KuelLife.com and is also a regular contributor to PsychReg and Sixty and Me. You can read more about Joan here: Joan Senio.
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