Mental health

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Relations and rest are some of the key elements neccesary for mental health.

Humans are social creatures, and relationships are an essential part of our lives. Social interactions are the foundation of everything we encounter, including family, jobs, political structures, and the economy ¹. 

From an evolutionary perspective, relationships came about to solve adaptive challenges. We needed help with propagating the species, finding food, warding off intruders, and raising a family. 

There are several types of relationships we need, including family, friends, and romantic partners. These relationships help us navigate the complexities of life and provide us with support, love, and a sense of belonging. 

In addition to emotional benefits, relationships can also have positive effects on our physical health. For example, social support can help to reduce stress and anxiety, lower blood pressure, and improve immune function. 

It's important to note that while relationships can be a source of happiness and fulfillment, they can also be a source of stress and conflict. It's important to work on building healthy relationships and setting boundaries when necessary. 

Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/relationships.

Rest is essential for better mental health, increased concentration and memory, a healthier immune system, reduced stress, improved mood, and even a better metabolism. Rest can be active, such as going for a walk outside, or passive, such as taking 10 minutes to sit down and breathe deeply. Regardless of how you choose to rest, these daily behaviors can help you recover and recharge from physical and mental effort.

Sleep is an essential function of the body and impacts every system from our cognitive function to immune health. Quality sleep can help us reset, recover and recharge. It’s absolutely vital to brain function, memory, concentration, immune health, and metabolism . For most adults, at least seven hours of sleep each night is needed for proper cognitive and behavioral functions.

Here are some tips to help you rest better:

• Avoid caffeine in the afternoon and evening.

• Stick to a consistent sleep schedule, even on the weekends.

• Set your thermostat between 60 and 70 degrees at night.

• Avoid napping during the day.

• At least one hour before bed, swap screen time for a relaxing activity such as reading, bedtime yoga, or a relaxing bath.

Remember, rest can look different for everyone. Find small ways in which you can incorporate rest and relaxation into your daily routine.

Napping during the day can be beneficial for some people, but it can also have negative effects, such as sleep inertia, which can make you feel groggy and disoriented after waking up from a nap. Additionally, napping later in the day can interfere with nighttime sleep. However, if you are feeling fatigued or sleepy during the day, a short nap of 10-20 minutes can help you feel more alert and refreshed.

Siesta is a short nap, often taken in the afternoon, that can offer various benefits for health and well-being. Siestas are common in many cultures, promoting rest and productivity during the day. A short nap can boost alertness, mood, memory, and reduce stress 3. Siestas are typically around 20 minutes long to avoid grogginess.

If you are considering taking a nap or siesta, it’s best to keep it short and avoid napping later in the day to prevent sleep disruptions at night.

To counteract the trend of lonlyness  and declining fertility rates, a conscious effort to reintegrate intimacy  is essential. In the contemporary landscape, where technological omnipresence often supersedes direct human interaction, the foundational social behaviors that naturally facilitate interpersonal bonding decline. 

The smile, once a ubiquitous behavioral indicator of social bonding and goodwill, is now an infrequent occurrence in routine social exchanges. In the urban jungle, the smile has become an endangered expression. The emotive resonance it carries is increasingly obscured, translated into digital representations that lack the authentic human element.

Handholding: A physical manifestation of social cohesion and mutual support, is now eclipsed by the isolated interactions with digital interfaces. 

Hugs & caress, a tactile communication of affection faces extinction.