(#8) how to improve your mental fitness

 Hello beautiful people!

Welcome back to WELLNESS BABE podcast. I hope everyone is doing amazing. 

On this week's episode, I am going to be speaking about something that is so important to me in my life and that is the topic of mental fitness. In today's world, we all have moments where we simply feel low mentally and it definitely impacts our overall life. Living a low-stress lifestyle is the goal, however it can be very difficult to achieve and maintain at times. Mental fitness is just as important as physical fitness, and if you think about it. When you go to the gym, wanting to improve your body, do you think that going once a week is going to give you the results you want...probably not. So when you think about mental fitness and it's importance in your life, it is also something you need to constantly and consistently work on. Having the right mindset is so important when it comes to achieving what you want in life and therefore having good mental fitness and prioritizing your mental health, you are able to feel so much better and stronger. I am so excited to be sharing what works for me and once you drop the idea that being your best self is a destination and rather choose to look at it, as a beautiful, worthwhile journey, you are able to decrease the pressure and stress you add onto yourself. Having good mental fitness is basically when you are in a state of well-being and you have a really good positive sense of how you feel, think and act. It is about keeping your brain and emotional health in good shape. I am so happy that right now, the conversations about mental health and the importance of making sure you feel good from within, has become such a talked about topic, because it helps people who are struggling in silence, to not feel so alone. 

The beautiful thing about life is that everyone is different and we all experience life in our own unique way. I remember when I was in school, having the pressure to do well in exams, the constant comparison and the stress that comes with being a kid trying to figure out things, it definitely caused me a lot of mental stress, and I would literally feel physically ill because of it. You cannot enjoy life when you are in a constant state of worry and stress, and I would really struggle mentally. So now, I try and strive for a stress-free, Zen approach as much as possible. It does not mean that there are no longer struggles or hard times, it just means that I need to make the effort to find ways to take a moment and take care of my mental well-being. 

So I want to discuss a few simple ways for you to improve your mental fitness in order to improve your overall life. 

1. Meditation. This truly helped me in such a positive way. I started meditating when I was 18 years old, and something you need to really understand is that meditation is not about perfection, it is a journey. So don't add so much pressure on yourself, if you struggle to switch your mind off and relax. Like everything in life, practice makes perfect. Meditation not only relaxes you, it also really helps you to navigate through your thoughts in order to understand your thought patterns better and release any unwanted negative emotions holding you back, so that you can find some peace of mind and Zen. 

2. Eat foods for your brain. 

Your brain cannot function properly without having the right foods to fuel it and it is so important to take the time to eat well. Life is all about balance, so I'm not saying only drink green juice all day, however when you make the right food choices and eat good, nutritious foods, you are really helping your brain to function at it's best. 

3. Turn off the television. I love a good movie or even going to the cinema is a form of self care, where you can literally just take some time for yourself and watch a really good movie or show. However I noticed that when I watch less tv and perhaps read 10 pages of my book, I feel so much better and more accomplished. Also - Did you know that the average person watches more than 4 hours of television everyday, and spending so much time in front of the tv can really affect relationships, life and your state of mind. So try and turn off your tv and spend more time living and exercising your mind and body. 

4. Exercise your body. I truly am an advocate for physical exercise because I have seen the results it has on my own mental health. I love doing Pilates, and you don't specifically need to do Pilates to feel good, but what I want you to take away from this, is that by doing any form of physical exercise, it basically boosts those happy hormones that make you feel good inside and it really benefits your mental health is such a positive way. Whether you go for a 20 minute walk, go to the gym or even go for a swim in your pool, it is such a great release and it will definitely improve your life in such an amazing way. 

5. Read more. Ahhh I love reading. It is honestly one of my favorite activities. It's literally just you and the pages of a really good book. It is also such a wonderful way to learn something new and it fulfils you. Reading also improves brain connectivity, it improves your vocabulary, it reduces stress, it helps you sleep better and it empowers you to be able to have more compassion for others. 

6. Make simple changes. Let's be real, we all love our routines and comfort zones. We spend so much of our time doing things that have become second nature and it keeps us too comfortable, which basically gives our brains less work to do. So to really keep your brain young and active - challenge your mind more. Change grocery stores, try a new hobby, go watch the sunset after dinner - changing up your routine once in awhile, will force your brain to wake up from habits and pay attention again. 

7. Do more positive things. What I really love to do, is spend time at the beach, whether it's swimming in the ocean, going for a walk along the shore or simply reading my favorite book by the beach. There is something so calming and peaceful about the ocean. I also enjoy art, whether it is painting or drawing, doing activities that make you feel good inside, is so important to improve your overall mental well-being, so whatever activity makes you happy, do more of it. I am so grateful to have experienced going camping and hiking as a kid, because being in nature, is one of my favorite things, it helped give me a deeper appreciation for life and this beautiful Earth. So spending some time in positive surroundings will definitely benefit your life. 

People who are mentally fit are in control of their thoughts, feeling and actions. They cope better with life's challenges. Emotionally healthy people still experience emotions like stress, anger and sadness, but they have developed an effective way to manage these emotions. They are able to build and maintain healthy relationships with people and build valuable connections. When you feel mentally fit and you put in the effort to improve your mental fitness, you become more aware of your own strengths and limitations. You are able to accept accountability for your own actions and decisions and you are strong enough to ask for help when needed. You may be thinking - wow - this sounds amazing but almost impossible to achieve. Just remember that it is a journey, not a result. When I speak about living your best life and being your best self - it is about being happy and fulfilled from within. We all experience mental struggles and the stress of everyday life. I certainly don't want to constantly be stressed out and unhappy, therefore in order to actually live a good, happy life, it takes some effort on your part, it takes self-discipline and it takes consistently showing up for yourself every day. Life is meant to be enjoyed and I truly hope that this week's episode has showed you what is possible and what is achievable, because living your best life is achievable by all, no matter your circumstances or your struggles. 

I am giving away a FREE Affirmations Guidebook - so feel free to click the link in the bio to receive your FREE copy. I hope you enjoyed this week's podcast episode. Thank you so much for listening. 

I love you.

Ciao :)