Especially during the cold months, we are busy increasing our resistance. Healthy food, dressing well, sufficient exercise and, if necessary, we supplement this with vitamin tablets to keep the risks of becoming ill at bay. However, what we pay (too) little attention to is our mental resistance. Moreover, mental resistance is often underestimated. How does that work?
What is mental resistance?
Mental resistance is actually very simple, feeling good about yourself. This is not so much about this in a literal sense, but in a figurative sense. Yet literally feeling good about yourself is also important, because if you don’t think you’re okay in an outward sense, this will also have an impact on your mental resistance.
Furthermore, mental resistance should include being able to cope with the daily challenges of life (in work and private life), being able to handle excessive stress (avoiding or compensating), having a positive outlook on life – even in the face of resistance and if this happens once. fails – you can make the switch back to the positive. Assuming that your glass is half full and not half empty.
Consequences of reduced mental resistance
Just as your physical resistance decreases has consequences, this also applies to your mental resistance. Poor mental resistance can lead to, among other things:
- Irritability (often over the smallest things)
- Depressive behavior or minimally persistent despondency/doomsday thinking
- Exhibiting apathetic behavior
- Amnesia
How do you stimulate your mental resistance?
Like almost everything, this is also a choice. You choose not to get stuck in doom-mongering, show apathetic behavior, etc. But telling yourself not to show this behavior anymore is one thing, but to get it into your system and to raise or lower your resistance. keeping is more necessary. Not all equally difficult, but it is a matter of doing it.
Sex
Several recent studies in the US and France have shown that your mental resistance is nourished if you have sex at least once, but preferably twice a week. Good for the immune system and boosts your self-esteem.
Friendships
A few good friendships also increase your mental resistance, this has been known for years. Where it lies in the quality and not the quantity of the friendships. Deep friendships help you bring issues to the table and express your feelings. People always react differently and so the feedback can also give you new ideas. It’s a strong feeling to have some good friendships.
To sleep
Sleeping is good for physical resistance, but also for mental resistance. The mind that is rested can deal much more easily with the challenges that come your way during the day. It makes you sharper and you look better, which as a physical expression also has an impact on the mental aspect.
Row
There is a difference between altercation and argument. An argument is often a heated discussion where opinions are explicitly discussed, but a real argument (with anyone) is an attack on your mental resistance. Your immune system declines and the argument can keep going on in your head. It can frustrate you, irritate you or make you and/or keep you downright angry. Moreover, it lowers your immune system and increases the risk of contracting a cold virus, for example.
Cheerfulness
Not everyone gets up in a good mood and then starts singing around the house. Yet singing/humming is good for your mental resistance. So try it as early as possible and whether this is in the shower, during breakfast or in the car or on public transport to school or work, there are also early enough moments.
Not many people can sing or hum out of the blue anyway, so the radio can be on at home and the car radio, iPod or telephone on the road. And if you are not (yet) able to sing along or hum, research has shown for years that music is good anyway. Just don’t turn on too hard for a man or woman with a morning mood!
Finally
All in all, they are no more or less than the things that are part of life anyway, but certain things often don’t happen. Busy job, family and that doesn’t leave much time. But if you allow balance in your life, there is room for friendships, enough sleep and sex and the realization that it is more than fine that you are there (with all the ups and downs that are part of life).