Life is beautiful, but it can be stressful. Just ask one of your fellow Americans, who are bearing the brunt of an anxiety epidemic. Depression, too, is more common that we might hope. Meanwhile, we’re fearing for our future and that of our country, working longer hours with fewer vacations than people in other countries, and allowing technology and devices to empty our bank accounts and occupy our time.
Enough is enough. If each of us is going to protect his or her mental health, then we need to live in a healthier way. We need to protect our minds and our bodies, and we need to find balance in our lives.
Finding “balance” means a lot of different things: It means balancing your emotional life, for example, so that you’re not always angry or upset. It means balancing your work and your life. And, experts say, it means balancing your habits — including your diet and exercise habits — to create a healthier, happier you. Finding true balance is a lifelong endeavor, but we have taken the time to put together a few ideas to get you started.
Balance and your body
Your mental health is closely connected to your physical health. Even without seeing the studies and the science, you can probably already tell this is true. After all, how many times have you had a bad mental health day after a poor night’s sleep? How often have you been in a better mood after exercising, or in a worse one after eating a bunch of junk food?
If you’re going to live a balanced life, then you need to eat a balanced diet. That means eating lots of whole foods and relatively few processed foods. Focus on vegetables in particular — they’re very good for you!
Get exercise when you can, and make time for an exercise routine. Routines will help you create habits that will make healthy balance feel like second nature to you. Try to get at least a half-hour of exercise per day, five days per week — that’s the recommended minimum, experts say.
Consider your supplements and medications, too. There are many modern options for treating anxiety, including the super-popular CBD. CBD, which is derived from the drug marijuana, is believed by many researchers to help treat anxiety and encourage relaxation. It’s easy to take CBD: Just go find a brand name like Select CBD and choose between options like edibles, vape oils, and tinctures. CBD won’t get you high, so you can take it daily along with the rest of your supplements.
Balance and technology
The average person spends more than four hours per day on their smart device. That’s a stunning statistic, and it helps illustrate just how unbalanced technology can be in our lives. We’re failing to exercise a full half-hour every day, yet we’re on our phones for four? Yikes!
We’re spending a lot of money on these things, too. We crave the latest and greatest devices; companies like Apple can price smartphones north of $1,000 and still have people living up to buy them on day one.
You should try to limit your screen time and save money. Apps like Apple’s screen time app are great for measuring your screen-free progress, and you’ll have an easier time meeting your goals if you deactivate some alerts and push notifications. Meanwhile, you can save money by heading to local repair shops to fix up your old devices instead of getting new ones. iPad screen repair is a whole lot cheaper than a new iPad, explain experts at one local repair shop, and a quality shop can also give you tips on how to keep your device safe from outside threats (like drops, impacts, and moisture) as well as how to keep it running fast and efficiently for as long as possible.
Work-life balance
Screen time is related to another area where Americans have a terrible time keeping things balance: work. Americans love to work long hours, take their work home with them, and skip vacations. Or, at least, they sure look as if they love it. But you probably don’t — so isn’t it time to make a change?
Put your foot down. Set real rules and stick to them: No emails after a certain time, for instance, or no work in the bedroom. Keep at it and expand your personal time and space. You’ll be more efficient at work and happier at home if you strike a balance in this — and in all things.
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