In order to live a healthy life, you know you should combine three important factors: a healthy diet, regular exercise, and good sleep. While they all play a big part in our lives, they are not exactly equal. One thing is for sure: when it comes it mental health, the most important factor is sleep.
More precisely, the most important factor for improving mental health is sleep quality, but it’s closely followed by sleep quantity. This is according to research published in Frontiers in Psychology, which showed that, although all these factors are very important, prioritizing good sleep before anything else can be the most beneficial for minimizing stress, worry, and mood swings.
The next priority is regular physical activity. Exercising helps your body release endorphins that boost your energy and lower the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Healthy diet, while important for physical health, doesn’t necessarily reflect on mental health, except for one thing—the participants who consumed more raw fruit and vegetables were generally in a better mental state than those who consumed less.
