10 Tips for Wellness in the Mental Room
10 Tips for Wellness in the Mental Room
I have been following Dr. Daniel Amen for a couple of years and really find his PBS Shows, books, and website to be informative about brain health. As the Indian Proverb A House With Four Rooms suggests, it is important to go into each of your four rooms (physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual rooms) each day to at least "air" them out. Many of the activities, strategies, and tips that I'm offering in the blog posts and in the membership actually help you "air" out more than one room at a time.
These tips do just that: they overlap the other rooms and allow you multiple benefits.
- Eat a Balanced And Varied Diet
A lot of the tips on this list sound like they belong on a list of tips for physical health. Your mental health, however, is dependent on the health of your brain, which is part of your body. What you put into your body has a strong impact on your mental health.
Chemicals from a great many foods are used directly by your brain, or are used to create chemicals that influence how your brain works. As a result, if your diet is too limited, it might be limiting your mind.
Calcium and potassium are key examples. These ions are important in handling electrical charges that allow your nerves to communicate with each other and with your body. Run low on them and you may feel sluggish.
My friend, Dawn, is a huge advocate for growing your own fruits and veggies, and she has her own chickens for fresh eggs. She avoids GMO foods and chooses to eat "clean".
- Monitor Carbs
Your body can burn carbohydrates, fats, and proteins for fuel. Your brain, however, is only able to run on the energy released from carbohydrates and fats. That means that if you try to cut fats and carbs out of your diet, like some extreme diets recommend, you may be getting enough nutrients to power your muscles, but your brain might be running behind.
Just make sure to get your carbs from healthy sources like fruits and whole grains rather than from processed grains and sweets.
- Eat The Right Fats
As mentioned above, fat is metabolized for brain fuel. That’s not the only way in which fat is important to your brain, however.
Your brain and key components of the rest of your nervous system, are made primarily out of fat. Fat in your nervous system works as an electrical insulator to help keep electrical signals in your body running the way that they should. Successfully avoid fats for too long, and your brain will notice.
Just be sure to get your fat from healthy sources such as walnuts, avocados, fatty fish and olive or nut oils. It is possible to make better choices at the grocery store and in your daily diet.
- Moderation Of Alcohol
As mentioned above, your brain is made primarily of fat. Alcohol is a solvent capable of dissolving fat. Fortunately, your liver can filter alcohol at a rate of about one standard drink per hour. After that, it starts to circulate in your blood. Drink too heavy too often, and it can cause permanent damage.
- Keep Your Body Active
Your brain needs oxygen and other nutrients, which are brought to your brain by your blood. Your blood is pumped by your heart, but it’s helped along by muscles. This is especially true of blood in your lower body.
Here your body needs to work against gravity to get blood from areas like your legs back up to the heart and lungs. That’s why if you sit for too long you can lose focus. I make it a habit to get up and move at least every hour, and when I get on an airplane, I pump my legs and wear compression stocking to help keep my blood moving.
When you are physically active, you also take in more oxygen. This helps your muscles, but it also helps your brain. The next time you need to “jog your memory” try actually jogging and see if that helps.
- Keep Your Brain Active
Your brain doesn’t work exactly like a muscle, but the “use it or lose it” mentality should be the same. To keep your wits sharp, use them often by playing word, number, and logic-based games.
Reading and learning new things is a great way to keep your brain active. This is very important for "airing" out your Mental Room.
- Keep In Touch With Your Friends
Crosswords and sudokus aren’t the only way to keep your brain sharp. Chatting with other people can encourage you to think about new ideas and to think of them in new ways. Any time that your brain is being challenged, it is growing.
Your friends have the ability to listen to you and share in your life; often, your friends will keep you grounded and in touch with reality.
- Keep In Touch With Yourself
Mental health problems like memory loss and other conditions have a way of sneaking up on people.
Every now and then, take a few moments to check in with how you are feeling.
Are you able to remember things, including names and important dates?
Do you often find yourself confused while carrying out tasks and conversations?
If so, it may be important to talk to a healthcare provider.
- Keep In Touch With A Healthcare Provider
As mentioned above, your healthcare provider can be an important resource if you think that something is wrong with your mental health.
Also, as mentioned above, your mental health is closely tied to your physical health. By helping you to stay physically healthy, your doctor is helping you to maintain your mental health as well.
- Keep Reading
Your brain craves information. You can also do more research on some of the topics discussed in this article so that you can improve your mental health and keep your brain going strong for as long as possible.
An essential part of my morning routine includes reading. I have several books that I "visit" each day. I typically read a chapter or two, a devotion, and ponder points I research. This is a valuable practice for me and without it, I don't think my day would be the same.
How do you "air" out your Mental Room? Are you learning something new? Taking a class? Learning an instrument?
As this year comes to a close, prepare to find ways to "air" out your rooms as prescribed by the Indian Proverb. The benefits are essential to all domains of your life. You will quickly see the rewards for your efforts.
If you'd like more information and updates about the launch of 2019 New Year, New YOU with A Pilgrimage to Self, use the link below to subscribe.
Cheers!
Lisa
The life philosophy of A House With Four Rooms suggests thinking of yourself as being four rooms: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual rooms. It advocates for doing something daily for your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.