When the topic of health and wellness is brought up, most of the time, the recommendations suggest what additions or changes should be made in order to see positive results. However, what about the common issues that people do that might be causing them not to feel as well as they should be? This article will discuss some of the mistakes people make that could be sabotaging their physical and mental health, even if it’s well-intentioned.
4 Mistakes To Avoid To Improve Your Overall Health
Sacrificing Sleep
It’s all too common that people cut into the amount of time they get to sleep so that they can catch up on work, enjoy entertainment, or find time to socialize. While it’s important to stay on top of things and have a balanced lifestyle, it should never be at the expense of your sleep.
A lack of sleep is linked with different issues, but it’s typically associated with low mood and irritability, so, therefore, it’s essential that you get an adequate amount of sleep (around 8 hours on average) each night so that you can feel and function at your best.
Comfort Eating
Like sleep, food is essential for survival, and the nutrients you take in do have an important role in influencing how your mind and body operate. However, even if food can make you feel better, it shouldn’t be used as a way to cope with stress.
Certain foods, particularly junk food and caffeinated beverages, can create a temporary boost in a person’s energy and mood, and it’s common for people to try to reach for these types of foods when they’re feeling stressed out or need a “pick-me-up.” Despite being tasty and having this effect, the benefits are not sustainable, and this kind of eating will actually be more problematic as time goes on and can cause increased blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
Sedentary Living
Today’s fast-paced lifestyle can be incredibly exhausting, and this can cause people just to want to sit down and unwind after a long day of work. It’s not a problem wanting to relax; rather, it’s how it’s being carried out that’s the issue.
People must learn how to live more active lifestyles because living a sedentary one is linked to several physical and mental health problems. You might feel like you don’t have the energy and motivation to get any exercise right now, but this is largely due to the urge to be inactive that millions of individuals are used to, and this cycle needs to be broken to start feeling better in both the short and long-term.
Not Looking For Support
Sure, it’s your health, but it doesn’t mean that you have to do everything on your own. A bad habit that a lot of people have is not reaching out to others, and their thoughts and feelings start to get bottled up.
A support system can include your friends and family, and this can be a good starting point, but it’s highly-recommended that you also try to get assistance from a professional who is trained and has helped others like you.
A counselor or therapist might be someone completely new to you, but more than likely, you’ll feel like you’ll have an easier time confiding in someone who is unbiased, doesn’t have any attachment to your personal life, and will have your best interests in mind.
By working with a licensed professional, you can learn valuable coping skills that you might not have discovered on your own. Online therapy, such as the services you can find at MyTherapist, makes connecting to counselors and therapists stress-free so that you can make an important inclusion to your support system. You can also find free advice at https://www.mytherapist.com/advice/.
Conclusion
Hopefully, by reading this article, you may have noticed some of these common mistakes that people make in their lives that are most likely causing them not to be as healthy as they potentially could be. However, even if some of these things aren’t an issue in your life, perhaps you’ll be more aware of the habits in your life so that you can make the necessary changes to live happier and healthier lives.
Marie Miguel Biography
Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of healthrelated topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with MyTherapist.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.
