Rituals, patterns, habits, all of these have the power to positively or negatively impact your life. It’s never one instance of negativity, self-doubt, or harmful behavior that puts you on a destructive path; it’s making a habit out of these things that can be incredibly dangerous to your mental stability.
You might think that some of these bad daily habits aren’t that big of deal, but they can really mess with your head. Even just how you start each day can have an impact on the rest of your week, month, or more.
If you’re feeling negative, tired, or unmotivated to do the things you normally love, take a look at these six daily habits that could be ruining your mental health.
1. Going to Bed at a Different Time Each Night
Sleep is recovery. Both your brain and your body use sleep as a means to recover from the day’s activities in the hopes that they arise fully recharged in the morning. Having an irregular sleep schedule will impede the body and brain’s ability to recover, which will result in an inability to concentrate and depleted energy levels. It could be the reason why you don’t feel like working out or doing something for yourself before or after work.
2. Your To-Do List is in Your Head
If you’re like the rest of us, your days are pretty packed with things you need to do. It’s absurd to try and keep your to-do list in your head rather on a piece of paper, or on your computer. Simply writing things down will take the stress and worry off your mind and allow you to relax more during the day. The stress of simply remembering what you need to do can be immense, it can also be completely avoided.
3. You’re on Social Media Constantly
As easy as it is to connect with someone on the Internet, it can never be a substitute for real, human interaction. Being on social media throughout the day can make you feel like you’re connected to the world and have a firm grasp on what’s going on, but you’re missing out on true connection. Your mind needs human interaction; it craves true togetherness.
4. No Time for Exercise
We all know that exercise is good for the body, but it’s equally as beneficial to your brain. There’s a reason why people talk about a runner’s high, and that’s because the brain literally thanks you for working out. Exercise releases endorphins in the brain that makes you feel good, and ultimately, gives you a positive attitude. Don’t go straight from the car to the couch, or from your bed to your car. Get out and give your body and mind what they crave.
5. Grabbing a Quick, Unhealthy Snack Before Work
Breakfast is important. It provides your mind and body fuel to start the day, especially if that day begins with stress from work, family, or anything else. Don’t grab that donut as you rush out the door just because it’s easy. Wake up a littler earlier if you need to in order to get some actual nutrition. Even just drinking a glass of orange juice will provide you with more energy in the morning than an unhealthy pastry.
6. You Ignore the Stress
Immense amounts of stress aren’t normal. Sure, we’ve all felt stressed out when something important is about to happen or if work is getting busy, but you need to be able to identify stress that shouldn’t be there. It’s important to understand where your stress comes from so that you can work on solving the problem and alleviating it. Ignoring stress or negativity will just make it worse.
