Your mental health plays a huge role in your general well-being. Being in a good mental state can keep you healthy and help prevent serious health conditions. A study found that positive psychological well-being can reduce the risks of heart attacks and strokes.

For the past couple of days I haven't been feeling well. Started with sore throat then escalated to a flu. Sneezing and coughing, runny nose, fever, had a hard time sleeping but I'm getting better. Had to work from home the whole week and I miss being at work.

Once a week, on Mondays we have a meeting, we had to have a Zoom meeting. That's when it clicked on me how important it is to stay healthy, and to exercise.

Before we start our meetings we are asked how we doing, physically, mentally and emotionally. Also we are encouraged to stay healthy and I used to love going to the gym but after my granny passed on, I took in a lot of responsibilities and one of them was to look after my uncle who is diabetic and lives with a disability. So a lot of things I use to do came to a standstill.

I had a reflection this week during my flu moments how important it is to take care of myself. Physically, mentally and emotionally. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, act as we cope with life. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.

Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood and aging.

So I am learning to;

Stay positive. Practice gratitude. Take care of my physical health. Connect with others. Develop a sense of meaning and purpose in life. Develop coping skills. Meditate. Relax and just enjoy life to the fullest.