5 Tiny Signs You're Not Taking Good Care Of Your Mind
A quick systems check for your mental well-being.
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A | Shutterstock Humans have found ways to exist in the harshest climates on Earth. Our adaptability allows for success in adversity and the drive to survive is strong. Stress is a factor in our success. Yet, stress is a detriment when it collects in unhealthy ways. Some of the first signs of harmful stress will appear in your mind.
Here are 5 tiny signs you're not taking good care of your mind:
1. You have a victim mindset.
When I resort to feeling like a victim and blaming others, I realize my mindset needs a tune-up. I am the creator in my life — and sometimes I need a mental and spirit refresh to not feel stuck by the situation around me. I usually can shift my mindset when, instead of focusing on the things I don't like about the situation, I change my focus to the opportunities for growth.
— Jennifer Hargrave, Owner & Divorce Attorney, Hargrave Family Law
2. Mental disarray feels like the norm.
When you're not taking good care of your mind, it can feel like your thoughts are in constant disarray, filled with worries or negativity. It's like your mental space is cluttered, making it hard to find moments of peace or enjoyment. If you're often stuck in the past or worried about the future, it's a sign you need to focus more on nurturing your mental health, clearing out the clutter to make room for more positive and present-minded thinking.
— Clare Waismann, M-RAS/SUDCC II Waismann MEethod and Domus Retreat Founder
3. Your curiosity has disappeared.
One sign you're not taking good care of your mind is when you lack curiosity about almost everything and avoid exploring and learning new things.
— Ruth Schimel, Ph.D., Career & Life Mgt. Consultant, Author
4. You notice a lack of self-care rituals.
- Ignoring aspects of one's physical or nutritional well-being that are critical to one's mental health.
- Ignoring sleep and quality of sleep.
- Ignoring the subconscious mind and thought patterns.
— Sidhharrth S Kumaar, Astro Numerologist
5. You spend more time watching TikTok than reading news sources or books.
As more and more people rely on the Internet for all their needs, they spend less time thinking for themselves. The more you rely on influencers and fast-talkers to tell you what to think, the lazier and hazier your mind gets. So think for yourself. Take breaks from the Internet to slow down your thoughts. Learn to meditate. Pick up a hobby. Engage with real life and the people around you. Use your brain more and absorb information from a wide range of sources. Most of all, don't fall down the rabbit holes of clickbait. If you must live online, read long articles, and prioritize content on your specific interests, not just the stuff other people think you should be interested in. I make an exception, of course, for watching cat videos. But when you're done giggling, go do something productive. Like learning about life from living!
— Dr. Gloria Brame, Therapist
Photo: Sabrina Bracher via Shutterstock
The financial stress of late-stage capitalism, the unpredictability of climate crisis-driven natural disasters, political power grabs, and war all the time? It's enough to make you ask if there will even be a future. We feel the overarching challenges of living an existence of baseline survival stress.
However, when we recognize the signifiers of when we need to take care of our minds, we can make the stress of 21st-century living a factor in success and adaptability instead of a detriment to our survival. We already have enough survival challenges beyond our control as it is.
Will Curtis is a writer and editor for YourTango. He's been featured on the Good Men Project and taught English abroad for ten years.