When you live in a big city, it can be easy to get lost in the hype of it all. Mental health problems are more and more common in people maintaining their lives around a big city agenda. So, how do we tackle this problem? It can be all too easy to neglect yourself while trying to keep up with a job, pay the bills, maintain a social life all while being on your own. This post discusses the ways that we can look out for ourselves and still thrive in the city without getting lost in the thrall.
Look After Your Physical Health
First things first, look after your physical health. Your mental health is directly linked to your physical health and in fact, it is noted in several branches of research that poor physical health is a direct cause of a decline in mental health. There are numerous ways that you can help yourself physically. These are listed below.
Exercise
Exercise may seem like a cliché statement, but it is a time tested and proven thing. It not only improves and maintains the obvious things like a healthy weight and a strong form, but it is also good for the brain chemicals. Dopamine is the main factor at play, and it is what is released into the brain during exercise. The positive benefits of dopamine include better memory functions, a more upbeat mood, an increase in motivation and even a stronger attention span. If there is room in your schedule for a daily exercise regime, then it is time to implement it. This can be running, some cardio in your bedroom, a class at the local gym, whatever you want it to look like and whatever works best for your bespoke needs. A walk a day can do wonders for your mind, not to mention the benefits that fresh air can yield.
Food
It is an undisputable fact that people have a tendency to eat poorly when they are feeling down in the dumps. But did you know that that is actually counterintuitive to improving the way you feel? Eating an unbalanced and unhealthy diet can impact anxiety and depression levels and lead to mood crashes, mood swings and poor sleep patterns as well. However, the positives that a balanced diet can bring include better sleep, more motivation, a general sense of well-being and more desire to participate in daily activities. It also garners a personal sense of achievement which can be do wonders for mental health leaps. If you don’t feel like you are able to cook, you could try a cooking class. You could also try one of the many meal delivery services that are dotted around which give you everything you need including a detailed play by play of how to make it.
Sleep
Sleep is one of the biggest ways that you can improve your physical health. Without sleep, the body starts to fail. Getting the right amount of sleep can increase your brain function which leads to a better concentration capacity. This can lead to a more positive work output or a drive in creativity. It can also help you maintain your ideal weight and make your exercise regime count more. A lack of sleep has a detrimental effect on pre-existing anxiety disorders in that it makes them significantly worse. All of these things add up and before you know it, your mental health has taken a plunge. Whether you struggle to sleep in the big city as a result of noise pollution, fear of crime, or a schedule that is too demanding, it’s important to try and figure out a routine that works for you. Without it, you are doing yourself a disservice.
Social Activities
Not everyone is a social butterfly, and that is fine. There is no pressure here to throw yourself out there if you are just not comfortable with the idea. However, there is a sense of purpose that comes from socializing. By nature, human beings are social creatures. Having one or two good friends that you can have the odd social respite with is so much better than existing purely alone. If you struggle to make friends, why not consider attending a local group? There are many ways to increase your social activities, you simply have to find what works best for you. If you can’t face going out, there’s always the option of having a night in with some good company. Even sitting in front of the television counts towards that ever-important mental health nurturing.
Self-Respite
Giving yourself a break is so important. Not everyone is good at it and not everyone knows how. Some tips that you can follow include having a bath or making sure you look after your personal hygiene, taking the day off to do nothing, making time for your favorite activity, or curling up with your best book or film. The list is endless. The key is making sure you put aside time for you so that you can avoid the burnout phase of existence.
Looking After Your Space
Your space is where you live and your community. You cannot thrive in an environment that is messy, cluttered, and dragging you down. Little things you can do include making sure you have clean linen on your bed, cleaning the bathroom, doing the dishes, and sorting your apartment or house so that you wake up to clean and fresh surroundings. These things are often overlooked and forgotten in the day-to-day humdrum so making time for them seems obsolete, but it needs to find relevance again.
Fostering a Healthy Work Environment
Next up is your career. Are you stuck in a job that underpays you, underappreciates you and devalues your experience and input? Even if you only answered yes to one of these three questions, that still indicates that it is time to move forward. Moving forward is one of the best ways to look after your mental health and staying stuck in a job that hurts you is not the way to go. Of course, it is not always as easy as simply quitting and picking something else up, especially in the current economy. You have bills to pay, and you have to survive, so this can be more of a slow goal. It will take time and effort, but you could even start your own business on the side and grow it into something that you have complete autonomy over.
Find Professional Input
If you are really struggling despite all the lifestyle altercations, then it is time to consider external input from a counselor or therapist. The stigma attached to such things has certainly depleted in recent years and it is now celebrated if you take the step to look after your mental health with regard to a professional capacity. There are bound to be hundreds of professionals in your area that can provide a way forward with how you are feeling, and a quick internet search can point you in the right direction. It is a trial-and-error process, and the first fit might not be the right one, but it is worth sticking with in the long run.
Be the Professional Input
A path that you may not have considered is becoming a source of help yourself. You might be naturally geared towards helping people, or you might have an interest in human psychology, regardless of the reason it can be amazingly beneficial in the path to understanding and helping yourself when you choose the route of becoming a therapist or a counselor. There are many ways that you can find out how to become a licensed mental health counselor in NY, as detailed here with a list of all the required experienced and qualifications. New York is one of the biggest, loudest, and busiest cities in the world after all. It might just be the thing that resonates and projects you forward into a deeper understanding of your own mind, while also being able to help and empower other struggling souls.
There are many solutions to not being alone in the big city, though it may feel like you are walking solo in a sea of people. There are groups that you can reach out to with other people who are also struggling to nurture their mental health needs. Finding people who are on the same page as you is an interesting experience that can really validate your needs and emotional expenses. If you take this step, you will also feel more motivated to do all the other things that can boost your mental well-being such as exercise, eating right and even maintaining that social element of life. It might seem like a scary process, but the big city life keeps people living in it for a reason. There are opportunities you do not get in smaller towns, culture points you would not experience, and so many people on different paths that you can connect with too.