Health

Mental Health Tips in This Infographic Can Stop Your Negative Thoughts

By Julia Morrissey | Posted: April 20, 2020

Managing mental health is extremely important, and even more so during challenging times. Currently we find ourselves in a situation that is uncertain, overwhelming, and naturally very anxiety provoking. We may be feeling fearful and panicked about how covid-19 is currently  impacting and will continue to impact our world. Our daily routines have likely been changed as most businesses have closed, and we are being asked to practice social distancing. Many of us may also be suffering from information overload if we are keeping up with the news. It may seem impossible to remain positive and mentally tough through all of this, but it is in fact doable. With a little practice we can retrain our brains and stop negative thoughts and problematic thinking.

Recognize cognitive distortions 

It can certainly be difficult to stay positive during hard times, particularly if our thinking becomes distorted. Inaccurate thoughts or cognitive distortions can add to feelings of anxiety and discomfort. Cognitive distortions, such as blaming (blaming ourselves or others for everything), emotional reasoning (believing that everything we feel must be true), and polarized thinking (thinking everything is black and white and there is a middle ground) ultimately make it difficult to remain mentally strong.

It is natural to have negative thoughts, but we want to make sure we are not regularly engaging with cognitive distortions. With practice we can identify distorted thinking and work to retrain our brains to curb negative thoughts. Even during a pandemic, there are things we can do to ensure that we remain positive and mentally strong.

Develop a routine

One way to train your brain to think differently is to develop and stick to a routine. You might consider developing a specific routine to stick to while social distancing, and then altering this routine slightly after we get through this. For example, right now your morning routine might include 20 minutes of reading at the kitchen table, but when things return to normal, you might consider moving your reading time to during your morning commute (if you don’t drive that is!). 

In order to establish a daily routine we will want to make a list of daily tasks that both need to get done and also that help us grow or bring us joy. Once you have a list you can develop a schedule that will work for you. 

Include yoga and meditation in your daily routine

You might consider scheduling time daily for meditation and yoga. There are many reasons to start meditating and to make it part of your daily routine. Meditation helps clear out mental clutter and helps us get in touch with our real selves even without a need to control your thoughts. Here is how meditation helps to let go of the thoughts and relax deeply.

Yoga is also a great practice to include in your daily routine. Yoga helps strengthen and relax the body, which unites the body, mind, and soul. A growing body of research has shown that yoga may provide significant mental health benefits, and that it is possible to manage symptoms of depression and anxiety by practicing yoga regularly. 

The Art of Living is offering for a limited time a free master class on How to Calm Your Mind and Change Your Life. It may be totally worth attending.

In addition to highlighting some of the common thinking patterns, the visual below offers more tips on how to retrain your brain to stop negative self-talk. Check it out to learn more how to reset your thinking.

Infographic courtesy: The University of St. Augustine for Health Services

 

You may also like to watch this 5 minutes video by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Founder-Art of Living Foundation, for some more tips To Save Our Minds From Negative Thoughts

Disclaimer: This content on the Art of Living Blog is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Any links to third-party websites are provided as a convenience only and the Art of Living Blog is not responsible for their content.

Julia Morrissey is a content creator who develops helpful guides and compelling stories. Her passion for creative writing has led her to cover unique topics ranging from business to lifestyle. She calls New York City home and enjoys spending time with her rescue dog, running in central park, and finding new vegan dining options around the city.

Art of Living Part 1 course: Discover Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s ancient secret to modern well-being.

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