There is no “one answer” to managing mental health. Instead, the answer lies in living holistically and tending to all parts that make us human.
Let’s reflect on a simpler being’s health – a plant. Each plant at a nursery has a little tag on it that outlines its needs. The tag may say something like, “Partial sun, non-acidic soil, low humidity, water once weekly, good airflow.”
Take that plant home and ignore one of its ten commandments and poof it’s wilting or turning brown or leaning sideways. Some plants are more fickle than others, some have more requirements, and some are more easily maintained. Each plant is unique but most need some variation of sun, water, and soil.
Humans aren’t so different than plants…just a bit more complicated. We are also all unique, but most need a variety of elements to serve our mind, body, and spirit.
Georgia is a foody-wellness blogger who has struggled with anxiety. In recent years she has learned what elements work for her to manage her mental health. Many of her wellness practices are a happy intersection between science and ancient feel-good practices.
Learn about what it looks like to live holistically to optimize mental wellbeing and give insight into activities to add into your weekly routine!
Exercise
You’ve heard it before, and you will hear it again – exercise is a critical component when it comes to both physical and mental health. Exercise boosts feel-good brain chemical, improves sensitivity to anxiety, and positively affects reactivity to stress.
“Time spent getting a sweat on encourages me to shake off a bad mood, work through a stressful situation in my mind, or simply take an hour for myself,” explains Georgia.
When we exercise, our brains naturally increase serotonin synthesis, which helps regulate mood and affect feelings of wellbeing. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is often targeted by pharmaceuticals to induce anti-depressant effects.
For Georiga, exercise looks like running outside on trails in Austin, attending a class at Corepower yoga, or challenging herself to a pilates class. The “mind-body connection” is a beneficial part of maintaining a healthy mental environment.
Working out for 30 minutes for 3 to 5 times a week can be extremely beneficial in cultivating a positive mental health routine.
Getting Outside
Georgia is speaking my language when she says, “I can’t stress enough the importance of getting outside!”
Spending time outside has been proven to elevate mood and improve concentration. (1) The vitamin D you soak up from being in the sunlight makes a biological impact on happiness as well.
Vitamin D activates genes that regulate the immune system and release brain messengers, like serotonin and dopamine, that affect mood and brain function. (2)
The modern world has many of us working inside for most of the day, which has increased the global numbers of vitamin D deficiencies to over 1 billion people. (3)
Georgia uses outdoor time as an excuse to chat with friends, get in exercise, and catch some rays – all of which positively impact mental health.
Eating Well
It’s a no-brainer that this foody blogger puts eating well at the top of her list when managing mental health. She declares that “food is medicine,” and she is undoubtedly on to something.
The nutrients we eat are the fuel that our brains and bodies use to function. If we are not providing nutrient-dense food, our bodies and minds are going to have a difficult time performing at their best.
Focusing on organic, unprocessed, anti-inflammatory, nutrient-rich food can make a giant impact on how you feel. This means dark leafy greens, vegetables, antibiotic-free meats, and lots of healthy fats. Simply put shop around the outside of the grocery store and only head into the middle rows for things you desperately need – like almond butter.
If you want a deep dive into what foods to purchase and avoid along with tasty recipes to try out – check out the first article in this series all about nutrient-rich foods for a happy mind!
Meditation
Georgia is far from alone when she confesses, “Sitting still is a major challenge for me, as I fight the need to be productive constantly.” This type-A, non-stop-hustle mentality is one that seems to plague most of modern-day society, especially in the US.
Meditation can build a foundation of presence, focus, and mental stability. The lessons learned from sitting still and observing “what is” has been of increased scientific interest. Researchers have promising evidence of Meditation’s ability to enhance wellbeing and reduce emotional reactivity. (4)
Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a mantra-based meditation where specific phrases are mentally repeated to reach a state of relaxation and self-awareness. Georgia is trained in TM and has “witnessed and surrendered to the amazing advantages of meditation.”
Although starting a daily meditation routine can be difficult, Georgia finds that “starting the day with even a brief meditation allows me to enter my day with more intention and purpose.”
SourcePoint Therapy
When Georgia was struggling heavily with anxiety, she turned to something many of us may be unfamiliar with – SourcePoint Therapy, which is a type of energy work. (5)
Georgia reflects, “I believe SourcePoint Therapy significantly helped me release the negative energetic blocks I was holding onto during those dark, anxious and unhappy months.”
SourcePoint is a method used to locate energetic blockages in the body that obstruct one’s overall balance, harmony, and flow. Some better-known forms of energy work are Reiki and Chakra healing.
Herbs
In addition to a diet filled with nutrient-dense foods, Georgia is a major believer in the power of adaptogenic herbs. Herbs that are labeled “adaptogenic” help the body adapt it’s response to stress.
“When it comes to improving mood and mediating stress, ashwagandha and maca powder are my go-to’s,” exclaims Georgia.
Ashwagandha is also a go-to of mine as the mental health benefits are off the charts for anxiety. It helps lower anxiety, decrease cortisol (the stress hormone), reduce stress perception, lower feelings of fatigue, and promote neuron growth.
Maca is found to significantly improve mood and balance hormones, including estrogen and cortisol. (6)
Herbs can be added into a daily routine in pill form or other variations. For Georgia, “I’ve added adaptogens to my morning coffee or matcha for years and vary them based on the time of year and where I’m needing an extra boost whether that be in immunity, digestion, energy, or stress relief.”
About Georgia
Georgia is a self-proclaimed health nut, and wellness nerd turned foody-health blogger. She dreamed of having a blog for years before launching Goodness with G, a blog that combines her love for health with her passion for writing. The blog serves as a personal journey of self-exploration through food, cooking, physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional elements of overall wellness.
She is also Yoga Sculpt certified at Corepower Yoga and teaches several times a week in Austin. You can find her most places – on her blog at Goodness With G, on Instagram @goodness_with_g, on Facebook @goodness_with_g, or email her at goodnesswithg@gmail.com if you have any questions, comments or just want to say hi!
