Hey Psych2goers! Welcome back to our channel! Supporters like you help us in our goal to spread awareness about mental health and psychology.
You help us make psychology and mental health more accessible to everyone. Thank you
for your support! Now, on to the video. At times, we can often forget to give our
mental health the attention it deserves. Some of our actions may be too mentally draining,
such as holding onto toxic relationships or pushing ourselves too hard with school or work.
It can be a good idea to step back and take a look at our behaviors and habits and ask ourselves the
question: do I possess healthy habits? Or negative ones? I’m sure we all have negative habits, but
now it’s time to start incorporating some mentally beneficial behaviors into our routines in hopes
we can develop a new habit – a good one this time. Here are ten healthy habits that
boost your emotional well-being.
ONE: Perfecting Your Posture Did you know that having an upright posture
is not only seen as generally more attractive but has emotionally positive effects as well?
According to a study in the Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental
Psychiatry, upright posture can have a positive effect and reduce fatigue.
Are you slouching while you’re watching this video? It’s time to sit up straight now!
The preliminary study’s conclusions suggested that: “adopting an upright
posture may increase positive affect, reduce fatigue, and decrease self-focus in
people with mild-to-moderate depression.” TWO: Learn to Acknowledge What You’re Feeling While it may seem convenient at the time to
go ahead and ignore that sadness or anger inside you, – I mean according to you, you have
work to do! – in the long run, suppressing your emotions can actually do more harm than good.
Just because you consciously suppress your emotions, does not mean they go away. Instead,
they build up. You should instead express emotions such as sadness, anger, or anxiety
to someone you trust.
Just imagine what could happen if you don’t allow yourself to release an
emotion like anger, and instead let it build up? Take anger for example, “[Anger has] been
linked to obesity, low self-esteem, migraines, drug and alcohol addiction, depression, sexual
performance problems, increased heart attack risk, lower-quality relationships, higher probability
of abusing others emotionally or physically or both … higher blood pressure and stroke,” says
anger management coach Dr. Schinnerer. Jeez, that sounds like one of those over-the-top ads on
TV.
No thank you cheery ad! It’s time to express yourself… in a healthy way, of course!
Anger can also lead to insomnia, anxiety, self-esteem issues, and
mental or brain fog to name a few. This is just anger. There are physical
and mental problems that can arise from any suppression of emotion it seems.
Because when these emotions build up, they will eventually rise to the surface,
and likely explode out of you like a volcano! So, what are we supposed to
do about all these feelings? Well, anger coach Schinnerer
suggests one way to break this cycle, and that begins with mindfulness: “One way to do
this,” he says, “is by becoming more aware of when you’re angry in the present moment, then looking
at the emotion in a nonjudgmental and curious way. So instead of beating yourself up, acknowledge
how you’re feeling and think about ways to cope.” So, take a break if you’re feeling anger
in a toxic situation, and leave the room. Pretend your favorite pizza dish has just
arrived, and you need to ‘pause’ your game. That is, the treacherous game of anger.
Level 5: Volcano Eruptions of Fury Hey, I’m givin’ ya visuals here.
Remember, this is just anger.
But you can do this with all your emotions. We can’t always control
what we feel, but we can control what actions we take once they are triggered. Feel your emotion
at the moment, acknowledge them, express them in a calm way. Then let the emotions flow out of
you. Like an ocean breeze, in the midsummer air… Yep! Visuals help release your emotions
in a… healthy and… cathartic way. THREE: Get Enough Sleep It’s time you’ve got your daily Z’s – or
should I say… “nightly” Z’s. – It’s time you got your nightly Z’s, my fellow Psych2Goers.
I know you’ve been slacking. What time are you watching this video? 10:00am? 2:00pm?? [whispers
to self] Don’t say 3:00am.
Don’t say 3:00am! …It’s 3:00am, isn’t it? The truth of it all is sleep is vital to
your mental health and emotional well-being. Sleep helps repair and renew all the cells
in our bodies. Every time we lay down on that pillow and go to our blissful dreams – uh,
discluding nightmares – we wash away any toxins that can build up throughout our day. With
enough sleep, we can have quicker reflexes, mental clarity, and simply feel better.
So, if you’re watching this way past your bedtime, it’s time to sleep after this video.
FOUR: Exercise Regularly Life can get hectic and busy. But, that doesn’t
mean we should neglect our health.
The benefits of exercise can start to present themselves if
we fit in enough regular exercise each month. Our bodies release specific endorphins that
relieve stress and boost our mood when we exercise. So it can be a valuable tool when
you’re feeling anxious or depressed. I know, it can feel difficult to even get out of bed
when we’re feeling sad or anxious about our day. But, if you can find the will to push yourself
– even literally out of bed – that’s a great step towards feeling better! Next is pushing
yourself on that workout bike of yours downstairs.
FIVE: Make Socialization Part of Your Routine When we are distracted or busy we can forget
to socialize with the ones we love. Whether we have friends or not, it’s best to get out
there and practice a bit of socialization. According to the National Institutes of Health,
“social connections might help protect health and lengthen life. Scientists are finding that
our links to others can have powerful effects on our health—both emotionally and physically.” So,
volunteer at an organization you’re passionate about, call up your mom or long-lost friend,
join a community with individuals like you! You can even leave a comment below and socialize
with fellow Psych2goers.
We’re here to listen. Whatever you do, it’s best to open up and express
how you feel to someone. Psych2goers included. SIX: Think Before You Act Oh boy, how many of us have jumped up and blurted
out the first thing we think of in excitement? Like that time my friend was telling me about the
loss of her goldfish Crackers, and I blurted out: “Crackers? The cheesy one?” Just me? Yea…
she didn’t have any crackers. I mean, not the snack at least. Must not get them confused again.
The thing is, we can act before we think. When we first need to calm down our strong emotions before
taking action. Sometimes before even processing a request or comment, we fill in the blank with what
we think someone else means.
In my case, I thought she said: “We got some Goldfish crackers” but what
she really said was: “The funeral preparations for my goldfish, Crackers, has already begun.”
Sigh, I get too many late-night munchies. But often people can interpret something said with
normalcy as something cruel-intended due to our own negative feelings. So, it’s best to think and
process what’s really being said, before you act. SEVEN: Be Present in the Moment This behavior isn’t always the easiest to turn
habitual. We can often ruminate on our worries throughout the day. These worries can create
anxiety and pile up. Instead, try focusing on one task at a time. If you find yourself struggling,
try noticing the physical sensations around you, what you’re smelling, tasting, hearing. This will
help ground you back to reality and calm down.
EIGHT: Take a Break and Practice Self-Care Congratulations! Watching this video is a part
of practicing some self-care and relaxation. Ah, the calmness of learning habits to boost your
emotional well-being… Are you feeling it now? It’s important to take a break when life gets
too busy or challenging and do something we love. If that’s simply watching a few YouTube videos
in quiet solitude, go right ahead! If it’s taking a relaxing, warm bubble bath? Get the water
running because it’s time for some you-time! If you still feel like your days are too
busy, you can simply try taking a moment to do some deep breathing and lower your
heart rate. Deep breath in… deep breath out. NINE: Don’t Make Social Media a Habit As much as you like mindlessly scrolling and pressing the heart button on
your friends’ social media posts, posting photos of your food, – stop it! You’re
making me hungry – and posting relatable memes all-day- Well… that one is pretty fun.
But! As much as you like spending your undue time on social media, it isn’t
always great for your mental health. I mean, think about it.
You’re often hunched
over and cramped, staring at a little screen. Straight posture, everyone! Straight posture!
Not only that, but people often find themselves comparing themselves to photoshopped
influencers with unrealistic lives. Plus, too much of one thing can tend to
be bad, and unproductive in this case. So, it’s best to not make social media a habit, use
it sparingly to post and browse memes every now and then.
I suppose with the memes, a good laugh
never hurt anybody? Uh-oh, old habits die hard. TEN: Eat Healthy I know. I can’t help it either sometimes.
Sometimes I simply want to snack on… well… don’t mention crackers… it’s best to move on…
But, a healthy diet not only helps your brain but your body as well. So, take it easy on the
snack food for now. And instead, recognize those delicious leafy greens and bright-colored
fruits will only add to your good mood. You can start by trying to include foods
rich in Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Research has shown that these nutrients restore
structural integrity to the brain cells necessary for cognitive function.
And? It can boost your
mood! These nutrients are commonly found in nuts, flaxseed, and fish.
Uh oh. Did somebody say fish? Do you mean goldfish?
Uh… Speaking of fish… I’ll be right back. Hehe. Thanks for watching and learning more about
mental health and psychology Psych2Goers! Which habits will you enact? And which bad habits
are you guilty of? Let us know in the comments. If you found this video helpful,
don’t forget to click the like button and share this video with a friend.
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this! And as always, thanks for watching! Thanks for watching! Video by Psych2go..