By Aayushi Rastogi
The Detrimental Impact of a Sedentary Lifestyle on Mental Well-being:-
- A) Neglecting Physical Activity: A Disturbing Trend amongst the Tech-Savvy Generation
There are many reasons for the increase in mental health problems in today’s world. One of the main reasons is that people have completely eliminated physical activities from their daily routines. In the past, children used to play outdoor games with their friend and loved ones, but nowadays, they are busy scrolling through reels and playing games on their mobile phones. The lack of physical activity and body movement leads to stress, anxiety, depression, and the generation of harmful chemicals in the brain. This has become a serious problem in today’s world.
We spend the majority of our time on mobile phones and fail to spend quality time with our loved ones. Whether it’s a child, student, or adult, almost everyone is engaged in mindlessly scrolling through Instagram, YouTube, and other platforms. The type of content we consume plays a major role in shaping our lives. We keep scrolling through our phones without even considering the effects it has on our mind, body and soul.
- B) The Power of Content: Shaping Mental Health in the Digital Age
The content we choose to consume determines our mental and emotional well-being. We should be mindful of the content we consume because we become what we see, hear, and read. Overthinking, fear, and aggression are also results of the content we consume nowadays. If we consume aggressive content, our minds learn to be aggressive. Similarly, if we consume spiritual content, our minds learn how to walk on a spiritual path. It entirely depends on the choices we make.
Our mental health is a direct consequence of our emotional health, which is in turn influenced by our emotional diet, determined by the content we consume.
- C) The Silent Burden: Sharing Negative Feelings in an Era of Judgement
Another problem contributing to mental health issues is our reluctance to express and share negative feelings. We tend to accumulate these negative emotions within ourselves, leading to depression and other mental health problems. We often hesitate to share our negative feelings with others due to the fear of being judged. We believe that the other person will judge us for what we share. Therefore, it is crucial to provide a non-judgmental space where individuals can freely express their emotions and discuss anything they want without fear of judgment.
- D) The Tyranny of Comparison: Redefining Self-Worth in the Modern Era
Comparison is another significant issue affecting mental health today. Even if we perform to the best of our abilities, we still feel that others are doing better than us. Our minds have been conditioned to believe that we are only considered the best if we outperform others. We link our self-worth to our performance and constantly seek validation from others. If someone acknowledges our work, we feel worthy; if they do not, we feel inadequate. However, in reality, our self-worth depends on how we perceive ourselves.
- E) To improve mental health, we must adopt certain practices:
1) Spending quality time with loved ones, nurturing meaningful connections.
2) Engaging with nature, finding solace and tranquillity in its beauty.
3) Staying hydrated, recognising the importance of physical well-being on mental health.
4) Cultivating self-compassion, speaking kindly to ourselves and embracing self-acceptance.
5) Rejecting the notion that our worth is determined by others, acknowledging that our self-perception holds the ultimate authority.
6) Engaging in regular physical exercise, harnessing the power of movement to enhance our mental state.
7) Pursuing activities that bring joy, nurturing hobbies and passions that uplift our spirits.
8) Encouraging open and honest communication with loved ones, creating a supportive network for sharing and discussing feelings.
By incorporating these practices into our lives, we can take positive strides towards improving our mental health and cultivating a sense of balance.
