The Daily Mind

Daily Steps To Mindful Living

Mental Health

Why yoga is good for the mind and body

Body, Mental Health, Mind, Yoga

Yoga

The ancient practice of yoga is something that we haven’t covered recently on the Daily Mind, so I thought I would dedicate this particular blog post to exploring the benefits it can offer to our minds and bodies.

Yoga originated in India around 5,000 years ago, but today it is as popular as ever, with classes being held around the world in all manner of places, from gyms and local parks to schools and community centres.

[Read more…] about Why yoga is good for the mind and body

Originally posted on September 11, 2013 @ 3:43 pm

5 ways that social activities can help to ease depression

Mental Health, Mind

I wanna hold your hand
When you are suffering with depression it’s all too easy to shut yourself away from the outside world. Shunning human company often seems like the safest option.

The symptoms of depression are many and varied, but range from continuous low mood and sadness to feeling hopeless and helpless, having no motivation or interest and not getting any enjoyment out of life. It’s therefore unsurprising that many people with depression struggle to socialise and find it easier to withdraw from the world. Indeed this is one of the telltale signs that a person may be suffering with a depressive episode.

[Read more…] about 5 ways that social activities can help to ease depression

Originally posted on September 4, 2013 @ 4:10 pm

10 Ways to Simplify Your Life and Reduce Stress

Life, Mental Health, Mind

Stress. No matter what you do, no matter how you do it, and no matter how positive an attitude in life you have, you’ll still encounter stressors that will make your day a tad bit more difficult. Though stress is inevitable, it does not mean that you are helpless in its face. You have the power to take away some of the stressors and reduce the impact of ones that you cannot avoid.

Simplifying your life will make you less prone to stress, because often time more does not simply mean more, but more equals to more stress. So while a simpler life might not sound too enticing, you’ll find that it will actually improve the quality of your life a lot.

Here are some ways you can simplify your life and reduce the stress you feel every day:

1. De-clutter – The space you live in is a reflection of your inner self, so the clutter around you reflects how much peace you are. While de-cluttering won’t automatically give you peace of mind, you’ll significantly help yourself by making your environment less stressful it you keep in nice and tidy. De-cluttering your bedroom, bathroom, workplace, and even your bag might not seem much but it will make your life easier as you don’t have to keep on scrambling around for lost keys and have a clean inviting bed to lie down on at the end of a stressful day.

clutter portrait

Clutter Portrait by Andy Mangold

2. Buy less – You’ll have a hard time keeping your place tidy if you keep on buying and hoarding stuff. So stop buying things, unless you absolutely need them. You’ll be surprised at how much throttling down on your shopping will do for you, as it helps you develop to be a more responsible person not only in your spending habits but also your shopping choices. Less purchases means less stuff and clutter, more savings and sense of accomplishment, and more important, less stress in life.

[Read more…] about 10 Ways to Simplify Your Life and Reduce Stress

Originally posted on August 26, 2013 @ 11:34 pm

How to Deal with Anxiety without Taking Medication

Mental Health, Mind

Anxiety is a normal emotion everyone feels in response to perceived threats. It is something we all have to deal with on a day to day basis and, though always an uncomfortable feeling, can actually be beneficial for us since it can make us more focused and be more motivated to solve problems in a more efficient manner.

xanax anxiety meds

Photo Credit: Dean

The problem with anxiety is, therefore, not the feeling itself but a person’s inability to cope with it in a healthy manner on a day to day basis resulting in chronic anxiety. For many, having chronic anxiety means seeking relief through medication. Unfortunately, this tack often brings with it a new set of problems as its many adverse side effects end up affecting the patient’s quality of life. While in some extreme cases medication is undoubtedly essential, a more natural approach to anxiety reduction is often enough and may even be more beneficial in the long run. Furthermore, whether taking medicines or not, it is critical that you acquire other tools to deal with anxiety if you don’t want to be dependent on your anxiety meds all your life.

So just how can you deal with anxiety without taking medication?

[Read more…] about How to Deal with Anxiety without Taking Medication

Originally posted on August 9, 2013 @ 11:09 pm

How Your Garden Is Great for Your Health

Body, Home, Life, Mental Health, Mind

gardening-for-healthy-eating-587x350

Doctors of the modern age have coined a term that last century’s practitioners might have a difficult time understanding: ecotherapy. Partly a prescription to just go out and enjoy the sunshine, ecotherapy is the process of easing stress, anxiety, depression, and other typical psychological ailments through nature walks and time outdoors in the sun.

It’s a method of holistic medicine that focuses on treatments that are not necessarily based on chemical intrusions as a means of healing, but rather on attaining a healthy body through natural means, like water, massage, and vitamin supplements. Ecotherapy is too new to be backed by exhaustive scientific testing, but it has received great reviews from many patients.

Despite the lack of concrete scientific evidence, many medical professionals are hopeful that a walk through nature will soon become what the doctor orders. [Read more…] about How Your Garden Is Great for Your Health

Originally posted on August 4, 2013 @ 9:22 am

Blues or Depression? Knowing When to Seek Treatment

Mental Health, Mind

self medicate depression or not

Advances in the study of the brain have led to a greater understanding of depression. It’s not just a bad day, but a host of symptoms caused by chemical imbalances that can more deeply root the neural pathways of the brain in a cycle of depression.

Studies have shown the depressed brain can atrophy and change over time if not treated. However, recognizing when depression has set in is one of the trickier parts to overcome because the symptoms go beyond sadness. [Read more…] about Blues or Depression? Knowing When to Seek Treatment

Originally posted on July 22, 2013 @ 2:33 am