by Gabby Bugwadia

Created on: August 17, 2010   Last Updated: August 15, 2011

Humans are endowed with a powerful instrument called the “mind.” The state of one’s mind has an important role to play in maintaining one’s good mental health. Mental health is characterized by one’s positive attitude to life. Those endowed with sound mental health are better able to cope with life's adversities and are less prone to stress. Presence of positive characteristics is the key to good mental health. It enhances one’s ability to participate fully in all aspects of life and enable humans to live productive, meaningful lives.

Mental health is inextricably linked to physical health; it is vitally important to a person’s overall health and well-being. It is an X- factor in one’s ability to lead a happy, purposeful life- - - a life devoid of negative emotions like chronic fear, hostility or depression. A person with good mental health exudes an aura of confidence in his/her ability to handle life's circumstances; such a person is generally well-liked in the society being capable of maintaining good relationships.

Here are five focal guidelines to maintaining mental health:

 1. Keep physically fit

Having a balanced lifestyle can have a great impact on one’s physical and mental well-being.  As physical fitness is an essential criterion for keeping mentally fit, it is important to take good care of one’s bodily health. This is an important first step to keeping one’s mental faculties intact and maintaining one’s mental health. A healthy person free from the debilitating health-related problems can enjoy a better stress-free life.

 2. Exercise regularly

Physical activities and regular exercise are known to promote “endorphins” the feel good hormones that energize and lift one’s spirits. Walking is one of the simplest and best activities which can be undertaken successfully even in the advancing years of one’s life. Mental exercises like solving puzzles, playing games like Monopoly and Chess, when performed diligently on an ongoing basis, can reduce the risk of age-related mental impairment like dementia and improve the functioning of brain.

3. Sleep adequately

Sleep and rest are very important for one’s mental health and well-being. Lack of sleep syndrome known as insomnia, can be a deterrent to mental health. It is during sleep that your body and mind rejuvenates and refreshes after a full day’s activity. A minimum of eight

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