Mental Health: How to Create an Environment of Wellness

 A 2019 study by the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that close to 450 million people around the world suffer from some mental health issues. These include depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Although in several cases some of these ailments are inherited, in other instances they have been found to be directly linked to an individual's personal life, their habits, their home and work environments, and their personal relationships and stress levels. Your mental and physical health are not only based on your genes and generational traits but also on your specific lifestyle and surroundings.

 

 

The key, therefore, lies in two factors: prevention and treatment. Some mental health diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer's are mostly physical in origin, thus requiring a physical, medication-based treatment. Others such as depression and bipolar disorder can be greatly alleviated and even prevented via a combination of adequate lifestyle habits, including exercise, proper nutrition, and wellness-based living and working environments.

 

So how do we create this cocktail of wellness, and how do we tackle the mental health beast? The answer is one of the many components: an environment in harmony with nature, a routine of simple, easy-to-follow daily habits, and a proper outlet that is suitable for you. 

 

Natural Living and Working Spaces

As societies evolve and the pace of life speeds up, stress levels in human beings, predominantly those living in urban areas, also continue to increase. This is not only due to the amount of work a person has but also to their physical surroundings, namely the constantly diminishing natural environments. The concrete jungles of today leave no room for trees and clean air, which, in turn, greatly reduce the amount of oxygen we have.

 

To counterbalance these phenomena, we must therefore bring nature back to us, albeit in limited spaces. Both homes and businesses can incorporate simple solutions such as utilizing alternative energy sources, integrating spaces with vertical gardens, and creating as many open-air areas as possible. 

 

Changing Your Daily Habits

Real change is usually found in simplicity, in small, easy-to-digest steps. In terms of wellness, here are some examples:

• Take a few minutes before going to bed and after getting up in the morning to simply breathe, think, and clear your mind.

           

• If you are too busy to go to the gym, you can just walk up and down a few flights of stairs inside your home or office.

           

• Take time to chat to your family and friends, at least five to 10 minutes every day.

           

• Make a list of things you are grateful for and read it every time you feel overwhelmed and stressed.

           

• Take a long, warm shower when you have time. A few times a week will suffice.

           

• If you commute to work by public transportation, instead of stressing out about overcrowding and congestion, read a book or listen to a calming podcast.

           

• Incorporate one health-related habit per month. Some examples include drinking more water, establishing one to two cheat days per week, intermittent fasting, and eating more fruits and vegetables.

 

These and other simple tips will not only help you deal with the daily stresses of life but also prevent them from becoming more serious, deeper mental health issues in the future. 

 

Finding a Suitable Outlet

Some people like sports, either playing or watching them on TV; others don't. Some people like watching movies or listening to music; others prefer taking a walk in the park, writing a blog, chatting with friends, or simply randomly browsing the net for a few minutes. What matters is not the activity that you do or how long you do it but rather whether this activity gives you some kind of stress relief and some escapism from the grind of the daily routine. Even 15 minutes a day three times a week will help, especially if what you do is creative.

 

A short release of tension will also help with preventing depression, paranoia, and anxiety. In addition, a proper outlet can also assist you in raising your energy levels as well as creating room for brainstorming and the development of new ideas.

 

Perhaps there is a history of mental illness in your family; perhaps you think that you are too busy or there are too many responsibilities in your life. Whatever the case may be, there is usually an effective, timely, affordable way to deal with these issues. By creating natural living and working spaces, making simple changes to your lifestyle, and incorporating an outlet into your daily routine, you will not only be able to cope with and even prevent mental health issues but also live a happier, more fulfilling, and more productive life.