By Krrish Edirisinghe
Mental health is the core foundation of our capability of getting the tasks done efficiently and on time. Your mental health determines your productivity rates and you may think right now, “yeah my mental health is perfectly fine”. You are probably the person who needs this the most. You could be operating at 60% efficiency right now, but why settle for 60? If you improve your mental health, you can strive for greater productivity and this can eventually lead to you helping family and friends on the importance of mental health.
Mental health is step 0 to relationships, studies, exercise and more. It’s why you feel tired all the time, why you leave that assignment until the last few days because of procrastinating, why you feel so insecure, why you feel socially awkward. You struggle with your brain and you can improve all of that.
So now you may be interested in the importance of mental health. And here is how you have the mental fortitude of a monk. Meditation. Meditation creates mindfulness, this helps in concentrating in the present moment. You can observe and understand the information from your teacher in class much more efficiently when you are mindful. Unlike the other student who is not paying attention and is focused on some other event in their life, you are immersed in the lesson without any external thoughts entering your mind. This is mindfulness, built through meditation.
I recommend the app – Medito when you start meditating. All you have to do is sit with a straight spine on a chair or with your legs crossed (I recommend legs crossed). Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Your mind may wander with different thoughts but that’s why we are here. You will eventually realize that you are being unmindful and you will focus on the present moment. Don’t be discouraged when your mind wanders, be enthusiastic of how you realized you were daydreaming. Eventually, when you stay consistent with meditation, you will be more mindful with less thoughts circulating around you. On your first day of mediation, you would think about the homework that needs to be done, something your friend said to you that brought feelings of resentment or sadness, or feelings of anxiousness. Now visualize yourself in the future who is not caught up in these moments but focusing on the current moment. Not the past , the future but the present moment we are living in. Think of meditation as the workout for the mind.
Another amazing method of improving our mental health is journaling. You may think right now that “oh diaries are for girls”. Journaling keeps you wise and introspective. Marcus Aurelius, Benjamin Franklin , Thomas Edison and Winston Churchill all kept diaries with them. These men created the world we live in today. Journaling makes you step away from stimulation and the distraction of the modern world. So how do you journal? Pick up a pen and a book, and simply write what you think. If there is something in your mind that you are anxious about, for example you can’t stop thinking about this girl or a boy. You can’t concentrate on your tasks because she/he takes up all the space in your brain. Write down what makes this person special. Write down whatever comes to your mind and dive into every detail, this will give you a feeling of clarity. This method can be implemented through stressful periods of your life or anything that bothers you. Another major advantage of journaling is being grateful. Write down every morning when you wake up “I am grateful for ___”. For example, I am grateful for my parents. Now close your eyes and imagine a world without your parents. Scary, isn’t it? But this is the power of gratefulness, you learn to be aware of things that hold so much weight that you would usually not be aware of. Waking up every morning with a sense of gratitude is a beautiful way of waking up. You will feel happier and satisfied. These positive vibes will be passed onto your friends and family and you will level up in your mental health. Spill your brains out onto a piece of paper.
Mental health is one of the most overlooked aspects of life. Your mental health determines how happy you feel. So the next time you are laying on your bed, scrolling through Instagram with your head tilted and mouth breathing. Ask yourself this one question. “Will my future self be proud”. Think about this each time you are finding something to watch on Netflix. Your mental health is reflected through your daily habits and I believe you can become the best version of yourself through dedication. Use the energy for scrolling through Instagram to exercise. You may cry and it is uncomfortable at first, but this will make you happier later. You will feel proud that you used your time wisely. In the future when you are in the best shape of your life, you look at the past and be grateful for your struggles.
To conclude, your mental health may be deteriorating considering the country’s situation but staying optimistic, and working on yourself will help achieve a better tomorrow.
“You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” “When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love…” “The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.”
-Marcus Aurelius
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