How to keep your mind healthy

We could all use this piece lately, right? Written by Maggie Hammond, a retired nurse and freelance writer, exploring and writing in the U.S. in retirement. An advocate for public health and nursing qualifications, she feels passionate about raising awareness of the current strain on public health organisations.

You need to keep your mind just as healthy as your body in order to really live your life to the fullest, but many people concentrate on the physical aspects of their health and neglect their minds, meaning that they are vulnerable to issues. Here are some ways to ensure that your mind stays as healthy as the rest of you.

Stimulate Your Brain

Your brain needs to be stimulated and exercised in order to make it stronger and healthier, exactly as your body does. Continuing to learn is a great way to do this, and reading books, taking night classes, passing exams, or even finding a hobby that keeps your brain active are all good ideas. It’s far better to be doing something and learning as you do it than it is to be watching TV without thinking at all.

Meditation

There are meditation classes that you can join, but you don’t actually have to go anywhere or see anyone if you want to meditate – you just need to do what works best for you. You only need a few minutes each day to meditate and become much more relaxed and ‘in the moment.’ You can start by taking a few extra moments when you wake up in the morning, before you even get out of bed (this will help you to feel more positive about the day as well), or you can do it at the end of the day before you go to sleep (promoting a good night’s sleep).

The more you meditate, the stronger your brain will become, and you’ll find that you can face challenges with a lot more clarity and insight than ever before.

Reduce Your Stress

Everyone knows that being stressed is bad for them both mentally and physically, but knowing that doesn’t mean that stress will immediately stop; it is something that you will need to work on, but it is always going to be worth it. Living in the present and enjoying yourself without worrying about what has happened or what is coming in the future is one way to reduce stress. This mindful way of living can be achieved through meditation as mentioned above, but also through making the most of your life and doing fun things. Search on ticketsales.com and go see a great show, or head down to your local library to borrow a book and get lost in it.

Alternatively, take a look at what is stressing you and deal with it rather than letting it build. It may be an unpleasant thing to do, but once it is done you will feel a huge sense of relief. With less stress in your life, your brain will be more able to focus on the important things and grow stronger.

Sleep Well

Sleeping well is another way to keep your mind healthy. Without enough sleep (that is around eight hours for an adult), the body and the mind won’t have time to heal themselves and grow as strong as they should. You’ll notice that if you have a problem that you can’t work out the answer to, a good night’s sleep will help you – you may even wake up with the answer already. Better sleep will also improve your memory and reduce stress levels.