Lessons from practising mental fitness, and why it matters more than we think.

I have read something on Insta the other day that really stuck with me — Mental health (not illness) is not something you “have” but something you “build”.

It made me pause and think, and I instantly realised — just like we need to exercise daily to keep our body fit, we also need to incorporate certain exercises to maintain good mental health.

I feel this is so undervalued.

It’s been 5 years since I started doing certain exercises and rituals to improve my mental health, but I never truly saw it as a basic need, the same way we view physical exercise. That shift in perspective changed a lot for me.

Which also means: if we’re not engaging in activities that support our mental health, it’s most likely going to deteriorate over time. Simple, right?

So, if mental health is something we build, what are the tools we can use?

Meditation: Not Just for the Struggling

Meditation is one of the most popular and effective practices (I think) to improve mental health. But there’s a common notion that only people who “suffer” from mental health issues need to meditate. I believe that’s false. Just because someone is slim doesn’t mean they’re fit. Similarly, just because someone doesn’t show obvious signs of poor mental health doesn’t mean they don’t need improvement.

Get serious with your hobbies.

I believe once we reach an “intermediate” level in any hobby, it stops being just a physical activity — it becomes a concentration exercise. And that’s one of the best mental workouts out there. Even casual engagement can help — the key is to do something that brings you joy and focus.

Engagement is the way to be “present” in the moment.

What if you neither meditate nor have hobbies? In that case, I think the best thing one can do is find and engage in healthy activities that require focus and bring joy. It could be your work — put some passion into it, be creative, find ways to get more engaged. I’ve learned that engagement is the easiest way to be present in the moment, which is also one of the core objectives of meditation.

In life, not every moment will be how we want it to be. So it becomes our responsibility to develop the skills to make it interesting or engaging. If we don’t, we’re left with the simple choice of blaming external circumstances for our suffering — which we often do.

Of course, there are exceptions. Some challenges require professional help, safe environments, or systemic support. But with this mindset, I rarely find myself experiencing those exceptions.

What’s one practice that helps you stay mentally fit?

Thank you for reading.

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