Our minds are like a garden. Everything we experience daily is planted into our minds. This includes our work life, personal life, the stress of driving in traffic, and all the other emotions we encounter daily. Just as we routinely get a physical check-up or perform routine maintenance on our cars, our minds need regular maintenance to operate at their peak performance level.

Over time, if we do not care for our minds, it begins to add up and impact our overall mental health. That is why keeping a healthy mindset to remain productive and active is essential. We will review steps for having a healthy attitude and how to incorporate these into positive daily habits. These include:

1. Having quiet time
2. Learning new skills
3. Setting personal goals
4. Embracing change
5. Celebrating your accomplishments.
6. Eating healthily

Have Quiet Time

Having quiet time is a significant way to start your day. This is a period for you to slow down, recharge, and reflect. For example, I start my day by praying and reading my Bible. As a result, I can connect spiritually with my faith and gain a better insight into life. It also allows me to spend time alone with no distractions or interruptions.

You are setting aside quiet time each day can be used for meditation, stress relief, self-development, walking, or simply reading a book to enhance your knowledge. There are many ways in which you can utilize quiet time. What is important is that this time is used to set the tempo of your day. As mentioned earlier, our mind is like a garden. Therefore, the benefit of having downtime is to nurture yourself mentally and maintain a peaceful mindset.

Learn New Skills

Your brain is like a computer. It is very complex and has billions of cells that process information throughout the body. Over time, we train our brains to react to information based on what we experience and learn. Limited information fed to our brains leads to little growth. Learning new skills is essential to keep our brains fresh and alert to avoid being stagnant.

Take time to try something new. If you are afraid of technology, for example, take a beginner computer class to overcome your fear. If you do not know how to cook, use cookbooks or even video’s from social networks to learn how to cook. Learn different languages or further develop talents that you already have. Whatever you do, never stop learning.

Set Personal Goals

The benefits of setting personal goals are to inspire us to improve ourselves. These goals are based on what we desire to achieve or accomplish. When setting goals, you determine what is meaningful to you. For some, it may be getting a college degree. Others may have the plan to start a business. Yet, a goal may be to stay fit or be physically healthy.

Whatever your goal, I suggest writing down your short-term and long-term goals on paper. Then, review these periodically to maintain focus and take actionable steps to achieve your goals.

Embrace Change

Life is constant change. When we look back over our lives, we will discover that we are evolving through different stages of life. The person you are today may not be the same person you were 5 or 10 years ago. That is because as we develop from our life experiences, we change.

Embracing change is an awareness that nothing in life remains the same. Therefore, as you change, recognize this as an opportunity to improve yourself daily.

Celebrate Your Accomplishments

Once you have achieved a goal or accomplished a task, it is a good idea to reward yourself. Think of this as a way of appreciating yourself. For example, after completing a 40-hour workweek, I would reward myself by purchasing a special dessert I had been craving all week. To another person, it may be purchasing clothing or something else.

The key takeaway is that you do something positive periodically to reward yourself for your accomplishments. This also serves as a way to encourage yourself and promote a positive mindset.

Eat Healthily

Many foods have health benefits. When it comes to our brains, several foods can help boost your brain’s memory and focus. As we age, taking care of our brains becomes increasingly essential. I like to think of it as having routine maintenance done on your car engine. To maximize the brain’s performance, it is necessary to eat healthy foods that can nourish your mind and body.

Here are examples of foods and drinks that are healthy for the brain:

• Fatty Fish that is rich in Omega 3 fatty acids – improves memory and your mood
• Green vegetables such as spinach, kale, broccoli, and collard greens – rich in vitamin k
• Blueberries and strawberries – these are rich in antioxidants
• Dark chocolate – this helps improve memory
• Nuts such as walnuts and almonds – provide vitamin E
• Coffee – this includes caffeine and antioxidants
• Green Tea – This boosts alertness

These are just a few examples of foods or drinks you can use. Always consult your doctor on which foods may suit you or if other foods will help you maintain a healthy brain.

Maintaining a Healthy Mindset

We have reviewed ways to keep a healthy mindset. These include setting aside quiet time to meditate and recharge, learning new skills, setting goals, embracing change, celebrating accomplishments, and eating healthy foods to maintain a healthy brain.

Remember that your mind is a very vital part of your overall well-being. Spend time trying out the suggestions on maintaining a healthy mindset. Please feel free to share comments or feedback on other things you do to keep a healthy attitude.