The Buddha once said, “Your mind is everything. What you think, you become.” Your mind is where you live, really: it is your space with your thoughts, and it is the platform from which you engage with yourself and the world. Did you know, that most diseases are really not physical conditions, but a manifestation of what your mind carries in it? Stress, fast paced living and the demands of a modern life put a lot of pressure on your mind. To keep your mind healthy, here are some simple ideas!

• Eat well: It is important that you eat well, and eat nourishing food. Foods that have a rich supply of vitamins, folic acid, omega-3 fatty acids and salts keep your brains sharp and active. An empty stomach can also cause your mind to slow down. Starving is a big no-no!
• Sleep enough: If you give your body at least six to eight hours of sleep each day, your mind is sharp, alert and remains with good memory. You are less susceptible to stress when you rest well. Otherwise, your mind is full of thoughts and it destabilises your capacity to think.
• Exercise regularly: Keeping your body fit and exercising regularly gives you physical strength to withstand stress. Exercises also keep your mind fit, allowing you to blow off steam from all the demands of life and work. Yoga and breathing exercises specifically help you fight stress and keep calm.
• Be social: The more you talk to people around you and interact with them in real time, the better your mind is at staying healthy. Interactions have been confined heavily by technology, and these things tend to stunt your social skills. Talk to people, have simple and light-hearted conversations and engage with others for a healthy mind.
• Indulge in a skill: Keep up with your hobbies and talents, enjoy a skill and hone a hobby. The more you do to keep your creative juices flowing, the more vibrant you become, inside and out. It gives your mind a fantastic workout that will allow you to be more alert and sharp. Doing puzzles and playing games also allows you to keep your memory, logical and decision-making skills and thinking skills alive.
• Laugh out loud! Watch sitcoms that are funny, read a funny book, listen to jokes and perhaps even join a laughter club. The more you laugh, the more you allow your mind to soak in cheerful fervour. A cheery disposition sets in, making you capable of taking on life’s stresses without tension.
• Bust all your stress: Stress is easily a key factor in bogging you down and bringing down your spirits. It happens – especially seeing how fast-paced life has become, and how there are tremendous demands on everyday living. Set some time to unwind, relax everyday and invest in yourself, and siphon out your stress out of your system to enjoy a peaceful mind.
It is important to make sure that your mind, just as your body, gets all the nourishment it needs, to stay healthy. Your mental state is significant, for it controls your consciousness and also determines how you and your body operate.

References:
http://www.healthxchange.com.sg/healthyliving/SpecialFocus/Pages/10-Proven-Ways-to-Achieve-Mental-Wellness.aspx
http://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health/
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-18084/9-ways-to-slow-down-aging-through-your-food-choices.html

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