Tips and habits of mental hygiene

Mental hygiene begins with the individual and we all need to look after our emotions, as the WHO recommends. For this, mental health experts agree on the need to adopt a series of habits for emotional self-care:

  Cover your basic needs

The first thing we need to do to feel OK is to satisfy our basic needs, such as eating and sleeping properly. These are key to psychological well-being and we should not let them slip.

  Look after your self-esteem and learn to be trusting

To enjoy good mental hygiene it’s important that we accept ourselves as we are. As well as having faith in ourselves, it’s also important to trust others.

  Manage your emotions and learn self-control

This isn’t about blocking out our feelings or letting them take us over, but rather about knowing how to identify and interpret them and regulate their intensity in order to respond appropriately. That is why it’s key to emotional intelligence.

  Manage expectations and set concrete objectives

Maintaining motivation and being perseverant is fundamental to surpass ourselves, which is why we need to set achievable goals so we do not become disheartened. We don’t have to abandon our dreams, but we do need to manage expectations and reality.

  Think positively and be on the lookout for negative emotions

Sometimes, we’re bound to be plagued by doubt and fears, but we can always counter them and limit their extent through positive thinking.

  Learn to relax and handle adversity

Stress is a very useful natural bodily reaction to cope with adverse situations. But it can be very harmful to health when things settle down and we must learn to switch off. For instance, through techniques as mindfulness.

  Feed your social life and find support in others

As human beings we are sociable by nature and we need to interact with others to have fun and share our concerns.

  Exercise regularly

Regular exercise helps, not just to keep us physically fit and improve our health, but also to clear our heads. Resting for a while after sport is also important.