#DMTBeautySpot #beauty

What Is Mental Fitness and How Can You Improve Yours?

You hit the gym at lunch. You aim to walk 10,000 steps a day. You cook healthy meals. You may already be investing in your physical fitness, but have you given much thought to your mental fitness?

Given that the World Health Organization just classified burnout as an “occupational phenomenon,” meaning that it’s not a health condition but the result of chronic workplace stress that hasn’t been successfully managed, taking care of your mind is becoming as crucial as taking care of your body.

RELATED: Misconceptions About Mental Health Guys Have

“Stress and work have always come hand-in-hand, but the digital age has only enhanced stress,” says Adrian Shepherd, a productivity expert who supports overwhelmed entrepreneurs. “Everyone knows that physical fitness keeps us healthy, but what has been overlooked for so long is that mental fitness is equally important. It should come as no surprise that the two are intertwined. Neglecting your mental health can leave you vulnerable to life’s inevitable ups and downs.”

What Exactly Is Mental Fitness?

According to mental performance coach Clay Frost, in order to understand mental fitness, we have to understand the idea of fitness in general – particularly in the animal kingdom. Animals like sloths and penguins don’t immediately strike us as creatures designed to thrive, but they are well equipped to do well in their respective environments. “Fitness – and mental fitness – is always in relation to the environment, not in relation to other people and things, but to your own specific environment,” says Frost. “Nobody is born mentally fit for their environment. They have to increase skills such as mental resilience and grit.”

Simply put, mental fitness is our ability to mentally thrive in our environment. And since our prehistoric beginnings didn’t quite prepare us for overflowing inboxes and smartphone addictions, the concept is taking on a new meaning.

Differences Between Mental Health

and Mental Fitness

So, what’s the difference between mental health and fitness? “Mental health refers to a state of psychological well being. It means having a positive sense of how we feel, think and act which improves our ability to enjoy life and be productive. Mental fitness is about the exercises and behaviors we put in place to make mental health possible,” says Shephard.

Frost says mental fitness provides a different entry point into conversations about mental health. The topic of mental health may lead someone to immediately think things like “I don’t need this” or “I don’t have that” if they can’t relate. But the idea of mental fitness makes people wonder where they stand and how mentally fit they currently are. It can be a more accessible, preventative way of improving mental wellness.

RELATED: Military Vets Reveal the Best Tactics to Tackle Stress

Tips to Improve Your Mental Fitness

“The brain is like any other muscle – without a regular workout, it loses tone,” says Shephard. So if you’re ready to get in killer mental shape and feel amazing as you tackle your day-to-day demands, mix and match the habits below.

1. Be Consistent With the Basics

Both Frost and Shephard stress the importance of getting enough rest, eating well and moving your body on a regular basis. It sounds simple, but it’s often tempting to stay up late to binge-watch your favorite show or have a candy bar when that afternoon sweet tooth strikes. Remember those little moments add up.

2. Declutter Your Work Environment

What does your desk look like? While you can’t control things like the mood of your coworkers, decluttering your workspace and purging items you don’t need will help you stay focused and productive, equipping you to thrive regardless of what is happening around you.

3. Develop Self-Awareness

From understanding your strengths and weaknesses so you can grow to learning how to regulate your emotions and react to challenging situations, Frost says developing self-awareness helps build mental fitness. “It changes your attitude and the way you see things.”

4. Try Brain Games

Flex that gray matter with some fun cognitive challenges. “There’s a good reason my 82-year old mother is as sharp as a tack. She has done crosswords for years. Sudoku is another game that really gets our neurons firing,” says Shephard.

5. Focus on What Matters the Most

A cluttered mind is just as draining as a cluttered space. And it’s not like looming deadlines and ever-growing to-do lists are going to disappear. Enter the 80/20 rule. It’s about prioritizing the 20 percent effort that will bring 80 percent of the results – and you can apply this principle to your whole life. “If you're in class and you're focusing really well but on the wrong thing, then you're wasting your time in class,” says Frost.

6. Practice Discipline and Patience

Are you being too hard on yourself? Self-improvement is a long-term game, and having impossible standards for your growth may be counterproductive. “The hallmark of an athlete that’s mentally tough is patience,” says Frost. But being patient doesn’t mean you shouldn’t show up consistently. Stay disciplined when it comes to your goals and you’ll build the self-confidence needed to thrive in life.

You Might Also Dig:

9 Ways to Stress-Proof Your Brain What to Do if You Think You Have a Mental Health Issue How to Avoid Career Burnout

DMTBeautySpot

via https://www.DMTBeautySpot.com

Anouare Abdou, Khareem Sudlow