The trickiest part about happiness is that sometimes we don’t even know what is preventing us from being happy. Lets dive into some of the silent killers.
Overconsumption of junk food
It is no surprise to anyone here that your diet has a direct impact on your mental health. This is called the gut brain connection. In simple terms, the gut-brain connection is how your digestive system and your brain communicate through nerves, hormones, and chemicals made by gut bacteria. A negative diet, like eating too much junk food or sugar, can harm your gut bacteria and throw off the balance your body needs. This can lead to more stress, worse mood, and less clear thinking because the gut and brain are not communicating properly. I used to be of the mindset that you cannot eat these things; however, I now have a strong belief that foods that would fall in the junk food category can be enjoyed in moderation. But overconsumption could lead to mental health problems. Be mindful about the junk food you eat and when you eat it.
Excessive Caffeine
Trust me, I am a firm believer that coffee is the greatest invention ever. I am also a believer that a quality source of caffeine can improve brain function. But when we overdo it on caffeine it can be severely detrimental to our health mentally. When you go over the recommended caffeine limit, it can cause anxiety, make you feel shaky, and increase irritability. Caffeine has also been linked to insomnia, so it is important to avoid caffeine in the afternoon and evening. Studies have also shown that caffeine has an effect on the heart and can cause heart palpitations, higher blood pressure and heart rate, and heartburn. You can still have caffeine but try to avoid it when it contains added sugars or when you drink it later in the day.
Sleep deprivation
How many times have you woken up from a poor night of sleep and just felt irritated and groggy? Well, that is exactly what happens when you are deprived of sleep. I have been struggling for insomnia for about a year now and the symptoms that I have been struggling with are shortened attention span, increased depression, increased appetite, and increased irritability. Things that I would suggest trying to get better sleep is to cut down on caffeine, staying up later if you wake up to early, and developing a night time routine that works for you.
Drinking alcohol
Drinking alcohol is a tricky subject because alcohol is one of the biggest factors in human interaction. Most of the time when we go out with friends or family, we will enjoy a drink or two, and I am here to tell you that is completely ok! It is when we start to binge drink on the weekends or consuming alcohol more nights than were not that it becomes a problem. When we overconsume alcohol, there are a number of problems that could happen such as liver disease, lapses in judgement, increased risk of depression, anxiety, and addiction. Enjoy alcohol moderately and with the people you truly love and care about to incorporate it into a healthy lifestyle.
Overloading our schedules
One of the biggest contributors to burnout is putting too much on your schedule. This can be hard when managing things like personal interests, family, work, school, and other activities in your daily life. When we put way too much on our plate it will lead to burnout and destroy your mental health, often times quietly or before you know. Do the things you need to get done, but make sure to schedule sometime for yourself too by watching your favorite show, reading a book, or spending time with loved ones.
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