Additional notes on mental health

Some simple truths about a complex topic

It is a theory of mine, but I believe that the cause of many mental health related issues relate to the disconnect between our perception of reality and the actual state of our natural world and built-environment. The advances in technology (in particular artificial intelligence) and the behaviour that we are nudged into by social media, along with our consumerism-led way of life, all add to the disruption of that connection.

The challenge of addressing mental health issues on a public scale seems rather daunting, but if we try to make things as simple as possible (but no simpler), we might actually be able to unravel the unnecessary complications and distractions that prevent us from enjoying better mental health.

While there are certainly external factors that influence the amount of stress in our lives, the key to better mental health really starts with internal factors that we have more control over than we like to think. It starts with a mindset of the self-ownership of our mental health, and some simple truths:

1. There is no shortcut to good mental health - the more time you spend on understanding your mind, the better you will be able to look after it

2. It is not a competition - what matters is what you can achieve and progressing towards your potential, so take the time to celebrate your success and the achievements of others

3. It should make sense to you - take a logical and evidence-based approach to understanding, measuring and improving your mental health; if something doesn't make sense to you, ask questions and do the research before deciding if it is something worth trying for you

The analogy from physical health

The reason why there are so many different forms of physical activities that people participate in is due to the fact that people come in all shapes and sizes, and so there are many different ways to exercise. From professional sports for athletes to innovative sports for people of different abilities, there is something beneficial about improving or maintaining our physical fitness that keeps us engaged and motivated to continue to participate.

However, there are also some harsh truths about physical health that we have all come to accept:

1. We all start with a level of physical fitness that decreases over time without any intervention

2. To improve your physical fitness takes effort (time and energy)

3. To maintain your physical fitness also takes effort

4. Therefore, if you don't continue to invest effort, you will lose your physical fitness over time

The connection between mind and body

Many of us are aware of the effect of our mindset and emotions on our performance during physical activities such as sports (or even just going to the gym). The popularity of sports psychology draws on the familiar concept of the 'mind games' that people try to master in the pursuit of sporting success. It speaks to the intimate and inextricable relationship between the mind and the body.

While we often isolate the mental aspects of physical activities because it feels less tangible, the best way to understand and improve cognitive functions is often to start with its physical connections. And as the saying goes, "you can't improve what you don't measure", so here are some common starting points to help you quantify some of the intangible aspects of your mental fitness:

1. Look for temporal elements relating to the length of time, not just in a single session but over a long term period. This is often talked about in meditation for example, when you try to increase the amount of time that you can stay in a meditative state, or how many times a week you can get into a meditative state.

2. Look for sensory elements that relate to the emphasis or de-emphasis on specific senses, or the combination between different senses. Although these experiences are often associated with the loss or degradation of senses, disabilities or impairments, they should also be viewed as alternate ways or opportunities that we can use to hone other senses. Some examples include the concept of 'overloading' in sports training, or the concept of misdirection in magic that channels your focus in different ways.

3. Look for ways to break your muscle memory or step outside of your comfort zone. One way to do this is to manipulate your senses in a controlled and safe manner, such as doing an activity with your eyes closed, or perform an activity with your non-dominant hand (for those who are not ambidextrous).

4. Look for variations or combinations that help you to think outside the box while still trying to achieve the same outcomes. Cross-fit training incorporates many different types of activities alongside core activities to improve general and overall fitness, just as you can find different types of puzzles or creative activities that stimulate different parts of your brain. For example, you can improve fine-motor skills by doing calligraphy or origami.