11 Undercover Ways You’re Hurting Your Mental Health Without Realizing It

Even though it might seem normal to feel overwhelmed and stressed 24/7 in the world we live in, it’s not, and it shouldn’t be.

Millions of Americans experience mental health disorders like anxiety, and depression.

And whether you fall into that category or not, prioritizing your psychological health is a must.

Everyone experiences negative emotions, and while some people cope better than others, there’s more to managing overwhelmed than simply thinking happy thoughts and practicing deep breathing.

You might be sabotaging your mental wellbeing without even realizing it, here are some things you probably do all the time that have a seriously negative effect on your mental health.

1. Bad Posture.

The consequences of slouching are worse than merely having bad manners, it puts pressure on your spine and internal organs and influences how you feel.

Sitting up straight isn’t just about having good etiquette, it’s good for your overall health, and that means both physical and mental.

A study showed that a good posture correlates with reduced symptoms of depression, increased energy levels, and a more positive attitude. 

2. Constantly Trying To Be Productive.

Our culture is fast-paced and result-oriented, the consequences that most of us focus on and feel a deep need to always be productive.

Even when we are relaxing, the focus is on recharging so we can be more productive later.

We rarely set aside time to just think, this lack of time to reflect and process is harmful to our mental health.

Being productive all the time, or feeling like you need to be, can amplify feelings of anxiety and irritability, it’s okay to take a break. 

3. Worrying Too Much About Being Nice.

Kindness can affect both the giver and receiver in a positive way, but worrying about whether you’re nice enough, can hurt you.

Feeling anxious when you think about how others perceive you, can be a huge drain on your energy.

You need to remember that your needs must be met before you can give to others, if you forget to leave some mental energy for yourself, you could find yourself suffering from burnout or depression. 

4. Bottling Up Your Feelings.

While you should always respond rather than react in any given situation, you still need to take the time to process difficult emotions like anger, grief, or sadness.

Bottling up your emotions might feel easy now, but it damages your mental health and overall wellbeing in the long run.

If you notice that something continues to bother you, don’t let it slide, speak up holding grudges will always hurt you the most.

And as the tension and turmoil increase, so does the pressure, eventually those bottled-up emotions explode, creating conflict that would have been easier to handle in small doses.

5. Spending Too Much Time Alone.

Everyone needs some me-time occasionally and taking time to yourself can increase your physical and emotional health.

But too much time alone can be a bad thing, even introverts need some level of daily social interaction to ward off feelings of isolation. 

Being trapped inside every minute of every day, can cause loneliness and depression to creep up, call a friend, video chat with a family member, or just take a walk.

If you can’t remember the last time, you went outside or talked to someone you could be harming your mental health. 

6. Not Keeping A Budget.

If you don’t budget, you could be spending more than you’re making without even knowing it.

It’s normal to stress about money, after all having enough means having security.

But financial stressors are also one of the worst things when it comes to mental health, budgeting is about keeping track of what you spend, but it’s also about changing your habits,

If money causes you daily worry, you need to take advantage of the power you have to reduce or eliminate your financial issues.

If you want to improve your mental health, consider lessening the amount of money you spent on wants, negotiating your bills for lower rates, and creating an emergency fund. 

7. Not Setting Goals.

With the news at your fingertips and the notifications of social media constantly pinging, it’s easy to get distracted.

Many people see their big picture become cloudier, and further away over time, for some, it’s because they’ve never really imagined it, to begin with.

For others, long-term dreams become neglected by day-to-day distractions, either way, if you’re not setting goals and working toward them.

You’ll start to feel like life is passing you by, if you want to increase your mental wellness you need to establish your priorities in life.

Then create goals that align with your values and work toward them every day, if you can stay focused on what matters to you, you’ll notice that your mind will be happier and healthier. 

8. Comparing Yourself To Others.

Perfection is an impossible ideal, and while it’s easy to say that it’s okay to make mistakes and nobody’s perfect, sometimes it’s harder to apply those ideas to yourself.

When you compare yourself to others, you’re doing everyone an injustice, if you focus on what makes you unique like your skills and potential only in comparison to other people.

There will always be someone who outdoes you, and you’ll always end up feeling bad.

Instead, concentrate on where you are on your path of growth, everyone learns different things, at different paces, and at different times in their lives, where you’re at is just as valid as where everyone else is. 

9. Starting And Ending The Day On Your Phone.

Most people are inseparable from their phones, but sometimes this type of connection can be more harmful than helpful, especially at the beginning and end of your day.

It’s easy to form the habit of picking up your phone when you wake up, and end the day scrolling.

Many people even charge their phones right next to their beds, but the emails, to-do lists, social media feeds, games, and everything else is just creating a barrage of distractions that cloud your mind.

For the sake of your mental wellbeing at least try to minimize technology, as you start and end your day.

10. Not Getting Enough Sleep.

Insomnia is no joke, and after some time of tossing and turning in bed, it’s easy to turn on the TV, have some junk food, or grab your phone.

But before you decide to give in, remember that skimping on sleep can seriously harm your mental health.

Sleep deprivation can cause all kinds of problems, from trouble staying focused to increased irritability.

And if you struggle with mental illness, not getting enough sleep can make things even worse.

The next time you can’t sleep, put on some soothing music, or try a guided meditation to help you relax your mind.

11. Never Taking Mental Health Days.

Some people feel like they don’t deserve a day off, but everyone needs to take mental health days every now and then, especially if you’re experiencing intense stress.

Taking a whole day off from work or other duties can do wonders, relaxation is not reserved for people who have earned it, it’s something you need to do to stay healthy. 

These habits might seem insignificant, yet breaking them can be a real challenge, but eliminating these common mistakes will have a profound effect on your mental health.

Now that you know what they are, you can now be mindful throughout your day to avoid sabotaging your mental wellbeing.

When you commit to a routine that avoids interruptions, distractions, and overstimulation, you’ll notice that you feel calmer, more balanced, and healthier,

If you enjoyed this blog post, please do me a tiny favor, and click the link below, so, I can quickly send you a brand-new copy of my book called Skills. Scale. Sustainability.

I want to congratulate you for reading until the end, once you click the link below, you will be met with a special page, that will give you my book at an amazing discount on Amazon.

Skills. Scale. Sustainability is an easy-to-read book that doesn’t have a load of pages.

This means I get straight to the point, and it won’t take too much of your time, in fact, you could read this on the train to work and probably be finished.

It’s a simple to use step-by-step guide, for anyone who wants to start a business, profitably keep their business running, and protect their business from any economic disasters.

Without having to do anything manipulative, crazy, or uncomfortable.

Thank you for reading, and I will see you in another blog post!

(⌐■_■)

#MentalHealth “mental health”,”mental health awareness”,”depression”,”anxiety”,”psychology”,”major depression”,”mental illness”,”bad habits”,”health”,”worry”,”loneliness”,”sadness”,”emotional pain”,”emotional health”,”stress”,”self improvement”,”sad”,”health and wellness”,”improve mental health”,”feeling sad”,”brainy dose”,”brainydose”, things that are hurting your mental health, how your home affects your mental health, how my mental health affects me, bad things for your mental health, what to do when your mental health is bad, 20 ways to boost your mental health, emotional factors affecting mental health, 20 ways to improve mental health