Before productivity comes your mental health: 4 ways to take care of yourself

Posted On: January 23, 2023

Mental health is an issue that you should prioritize in our lives.
However, sometimes, our work, family or social environment makes it difficult for us to find a balance within them.
To achieve this, the president of the American Psychological Association, Thema Bryant, details how to do it.
Do you already know our Instagram account? follow us.

Mental health is more “under the microscope” than ever, in a world where precarious, geopolitical uncertainties, climate crises or eventualities recession put “on tick”.

The MSW 2021 report, the world’s largest and most comprehensive wellness study, reveals that in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia, 30% of people experience distress or difficulty with their emotions.

Worldwide, the decline is most worrying among young people: half (44%) have problems related to mental health.

False and bad beliefs habit are some of the major ballast that complicate the balance between our actions and thoughts.

This is what Thema Bryant, president of the American Psychological Association, explained in an interview for CNBC.

1. Avoiding thinking about a problem does not solve it

Bryant believes that avoiding conflict is an important issue that must be considered in maintaining mental health. The line “if I don’t think about it, it’s gone” doesn’t work. Experts warn that suppression will not work, especially in the long term.

“When we have a challenging life experience and we avoid it, it ends up showing up in other ways, affecting our sleep or how we raise our children,” she explains. “Avoiding is not the same as healing,” he mused.

2. Don’t associate success and productivity with emotional well-being

«You have to abandon the false dichotomy which consists in believing that to be successful you must leave yourself»

The second misunderstanding was explained by Thema Bryant to CNBC it associates being “busy” or “productive” with “healing” or feeling “well” or “full.”

Many people believe that depression It manifests itself in the same way in all people, preventing them from getting out of bed. However, many suffer from high functioning depression.

In other words, the success of a business or productivity it’s not always an indicator of your integrity or emotional well-being.

“You have to think about your own longevity and sustainability. Sometimes we are so obsessed with collecting more or getting a promotion that we don’t pay attention to the future.

3. Create your own healthy rhythms and self-care rituals

Specialists advise creating a healthy rhythm that does not absorb all vital energy and time; which allows maintaining health and personal relationships.

«You depend on you and your family depends on you; when we get into the ‘hole’, it’s not going to work in the long run. It’s important to find small ways to create a grooming ritual.

This may include listening to a podcast, a long shower in the morning or a good morning relaxation routine.

4. Indispensable value of friendship and bonding: prioritize healthy and genuine relationships

This expert points out that good relationships, friendships, and connections are healthy in the family and at work work “They help you and remind you that you are alive, that you are not a simple robot, object or any other number in your company.”

“It can give us encouragement, love and compassion.” Also, for very busy people, she recommends thinking about the quality of friendships over quantity.

“Even if you can’t talk on the phone for hours or see each other often, what matters is that when you connect, you are authentic, transparent, and mutually beneficial,” she highlighted in the interview.

“It’s so healing to feel known by someone, accepted and cared for for who you are, without having to act out or conform.”

For him it was a relief to be in the company people with which one feels a true connection.

“It’s a ‘gift’ to our nervous system when we are with someone who makes us feel at home,” he concluded.

NOW READ: This is how you can fix a deteriorating work environment caused by remote work