The Common Habit Harming Your Mental Health

By Stepy Kamei

When it comes to living a healthy lifestyle, you probably know about the more standard ways to physically achieve this. Eating a nutritious diet, exercising regularly, and sleeping well are some of the most common ways in which you can easily boost your overall sense of well-being. However, are you also taking the time to care for your mental health as well? As it turns out, your mental well-being is often very closely linked with your physical wellness. Therefore, it's definitely in your best interest to make sure you're making your mental health just as much of a priority as your physical well-being. Unfortunately, there are many unhealthy habits out there that can have a negative impact on a person's mental health. Keep on reading to learn more about a common unhealthy habit you may be indulging in, as well as understanding the warning signs of whether this habit is degrading your mental, and therefore overall, health.

Social Media Use: Is it Hurting Your Health?

Most of us use social media in some form or another. It's important to point out that, for most people, using social media isn't necessarily immediately detrimental to our health and well-being. However, it does have the tendency to cause issues to our mental wellness.

As with virtually any other habit, social media usage in excessive amounts can spell out negative consequences for the user's sense of well-being. Studies are showing that people who engage in social media multiple times a day, every day, are more likely to report feeling anxious, depressed, or fatigued than those who practice social media use in moderation. These findings are more pronounced with women and teenage girls.

This is already problematic enough, but it's only worse when you understand the ways in which poor mental health can impact your physical health as well. People who experience anxiety and depression tend to eat less nutritious foods, opting instead for more comforting snacks which are high in sugar, fat, and salt. Furthermore, poor mental health is linked with reduced sleep, which can contribute to a wide variety of physical and mental health concerns. Weight gain, increased stress, reduced productivity, and even heart disease, are just some of the issues linked to individuals who report chronic levels of poor sleep.

Keeping Your Mental Health in Check

It's vital that you make sure you're taking care of your mental health by avoiding spending excessive amounts of time on social media. It's OK to catch up with your friends, but do your best to arrange more face-to-face interactions instead if possible. It may help you to set up a website blocker that limits your time on social media websites as well.

To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Sandy Springs, Ga.