Why Good Mental Health Takes Work
Why Good Mental Health Takes Work
Good mental health isn’t something you roll out of bed with one day. It’s not the kind of thing you can get from a therapist, or even buy at a store or pharmacy. Good mental health takes hard work, and it’s something you have to work on for the rest of your life. While it might seem like there are people out there who make good mental health look effortless, here is why good mental health takes work.
Good Mental Health Isn’t an End Goal
What is good mental health? Is it when you don’t feel sad over trivial things, or when you learn to take care of your mind the same way you take care of your body. Having good mental health isn’t an end goal you can achieve. Good mental health is an ongoing journey and one that you will spend your entire life embarking on. While you can be mentally healthy, you will always have to work to maintain that health, or you will end up back at the starting line all over again.
It Takes Work to Be Mentally Healthy
If you were working toward your physical health, you might be mindful of what you eat. You would make sure you are exercising regularly. You might even take vitamins, drink plenty of water and track your step count. Being physically healthy takes work, but so does mental health. To be mentally fit, you have to put in the work. You have to care for your mind just as you would your body. Self care is a daily practise that requires a great level of awareness, prioritization and discipline.
Mental Health is “Personal”
Physical unhealthiness is sometimes easy to see. You might notice that your friend has put on weight, or you may even notice that a coworker can barely keep their head up while at their desk after a late night. Physical health is more visual. Mental health is internal and invisible that the outside world may never see. If you suffer from depression, your friends and family might pick up on your sadness, but this isn’t true for everyone.
When we notice a loved one struggling with their health, we have a strong desire to want to help. We offer to go jogging with a friend who has put on weight. We provide a coffee for the coworker who was up too late. But it’s not that easy to help someone who struggles with their mental health if we don’t know the signs and symptoms, how to spot it and respond. To learn how to support someone, register for a mental health first aid workshop. Click here to register: https://megahealth.ca/mental-health-first-aid
Mental health is such an essential part of who we are. While having good mental health is crucial for every single one of us, it doesn’t come easy. Hopefully, this post has inspired you to take care of your mental health and put in the daily work to strive toward good mental health.
