Publish date:
“What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candor, and more unashamed conversation.” – Quote by American actress Glenn Close
Technology is both a boon and a curse. Primarily a boon to make our lives simpler and easier. Its misuse can lead some to call it a curse. In the recent months of 2020, more specifically, electronic devices and social media have unfortunately played the role of a curse. Having taken over our lives, they now are dictating mental health issues and mental wellness. Even the strongest of minds wilt under the constant barrage of news, views, etc every few seconds.
Depends on which social media you are on- LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest, it is advisable to spend minimum time on them and more time in engagement with the real world. The constant barrage of misinformation, hate posts and nonsense being spewed on these social media platforms by anonymous trolls or even nasty people on our own social circles is a bit too much. We all need to be aware, take a step back, and reclaim our sanity which is very much under threat currently.
Instead of spending too much time on social media one should spend the same time on constructive hobbies that will also help in mental wellness.
The hobbies you could cultivate include (and are not limited to):
-
Gardening
-
Music and dance
-
Fine arts
-
Do it yourself assembling
-
Writing and poetry
-
Reading
-
Photography, calligraphy and so on
-
Cooking
-
Foreign language
As you can see, the hobbies to cultivate while maintaining physical distancing and staying home safe are many. Revive your interests or learn a new one. Get your grey cells moving. Keep them active so that the mind remains young. One of the best hobbies which should be cultivated from any age is reading. It could be books, magazines, newspapers. Reading material is one’s best friend, they never let you down and open up so many vistas while you remain in your sacred spaces. With reading, you can learn so much, expand your horizons, while keeping your mental wellness. Try a genre of your choice, or ask people for recommendations.
For a beginner who enjoys light reading, and is fond of nature & people, the go-to author is the legendary Mr. Ruskin Bond, who writes prolifically and is one of the beloved authors of India, with a large readership from grandparents to grandkids. Try his short stories, immerse yourself in a gentler world, and come out refreshed. Mr. Bond never fails in saving one’s mental wellness. He transports into a world of butterflies, ferns, and rain, how can one not feel happy, content, and bloom in mental wellness?
0
About the Author
603 D-Mall Netaji Subhash Place, Delhi 110034 IND
