The relationship between motivation and mental health can be a difficult nut to crack. It seems more common than ever in the modern world for people to concentrate on improving their
well-being. Naturally, This is important and can help us live longer, happier, and more fulfilled lives. It can be all too easy, though to place most focus on the physical aspects of this and put most effort into getting in better shape physically. This is certainly one part of the puzzle, but remembering the essential role of mental health in well-being is also critical.
This is because our mental health can have a direct impact on how we feel, how we interact with others, and how we approach life. Therefore, finding ways to protect our mental health is key to fully embracing all life has to offer. Our mental health can also have a direct impact on our physical health, and this relationship cannot be ignored.
The role of motivation in well-being
As the above shows, a deeper understanding of more holistic approaches to health in modern society has led to an appreciation of how important mental health is to well-being. Mental health is a hot topic in the wider healthcare system currently, and this is down to the rising numbers of adults globally reporting mental health issues.
The growing focus on mental well-being has fueled a surge in interest in mental health careers and the demand for specialized nurses, particularly advanced practice roles like Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs). PMHNP certificate programs like the Postgraduate PMHNP online program at Wilkes University address this demand by equipping MSN- or DNP-prepared registered nurses with the necessary skills to excel in mental health care. The program offers a comprehensive curriculum alongside clinical placements, ensuring students graduate with both theoretical knowledge and practical experience. This combination prepares them to provide patients with the most effective mental health treatment.
To effectively provide the best support for clients, professionals in this field need to know about the reciprocal relationship that exists between mental health and motivation. This is because our mental well-being can directly affect how motivated we feel to enjoy daily life. But just how can both of these factors have a positive impact on one another?
How can motivation positively influence mental health?
Being motivated to achieve what we want in life is key to harnessing the power of the mind and living a happier, more fulfilled existence. It is also fair to say that how motivated we feel in daily life can greatly impact our state of mind and how we feel about ourselves or our lives. But how does this work exactly?
To begin with, motivation can give us the energy needed to achieve our goals or make lifestyle changes. This might be moving to a new job, getting out of a toxic relationship, or any other lifestyle change we wish to make.
Making these kinds of positive changes can, in turn, have a beneficial influence on our mental health and how happy we feel. It can also give self-esteem levels a major boost, as we feel good about having the courage to achieve our objectives.
Motivation can also simply make us feel good about ourselves even if we are not making major changes in our lives. This is because it gives us the drive to excel at work, make the most of family life, and avoid spending all our time sitting around the house doing nothing.
By acting upon our motivations, our self-image is given a major boost, and we feel better about ourselves overall. Of course, a lack of motivation can have the opposite effect and prove dangerous for mental health. A good example of this is someone who can’t find the motivation to study for the qualifications needed to progress in their career and then has a poor self-image based on being unsuccessful professionally.
How does mental health positively impact motivation?
It is also true that our mental health can positively influence how motivated we feel to live each day to the fullest and make our dreams a reality. This is where the reciprocal relationship between the two comes into full focus, and we start to see how one impacts the other. Good mental well-being can positively affect our motivation levels because it helps us feel more able to engage with life fully.
For example, people with good mental health are more likely to be open to new opportunities and feel confident enough to meet new challenges or interact with new people.
This can be beneficial in both a personal sense (where you might feel confident enough in yourself to enroll in dance classes you have always fancied) or a professional sense (where you feel confident enough in social situations to build close bonds with colleagues at work).
Poor mental health, however, can bring feelings of worthlessness, which in turn can stop people from having the motivation needed to start their own business or apply for better jobs.
Mental well-being gives us the motivation to live.
Excellent mental well-being is also important for simply being motivated to get up each day. Working out is one way to combat some of the symptoms of mental health issues such as anxiety or depression. While exercise is an excellent tool to maintain good mental well-being, sticking to an exercise regime can be difficult. Luckily, there are some awesome motivational tips for people who feel too depressed to work out, which can help.
How can people improve their mental health and thus boost motivation levels?
When all of the above is considered,it is obvious that finding ways to improve your mental well-being can have a positive impact on how motivated you feel. This will give you the confidence to carry forward.
Diet and nutrition
A good place to start is to look at your diet. This is because what we eat and drink has a huge influence on our state of mind and how we feel about ourselves.
Our diet also has a massive impact on how much energy we must navigate daily life successfully. If we do not fuel our bodies correctly, we will not only feel bad about ourselves, which can be harmful for mental health, but also lack the energy needed to be productive.
Eating a healthy, balanced diet that provides all the nutrients our bodies need each day is key.
This should include fresh fruit, vegetables, healthy proteins, seeds, nuts, and pulses. It is also key to stay properly hydrated and drink around eight glasses of plain water per day.
This will help us to feel healthier, which in turn makes us feel better about ourselves and the choices we make. Staying properly hydrated with water also keeps us feeling mentally sharp and avoids sluggishness affecting how motivated we are.
Regular exercise
In addition to diet and nutrition, regular exercise can also be highly beneficial for our mental health. Exercising regularly, for example, can help us feel fitter, leaner, and more toned. This in turn, can lead to better self-esteem and provide a sense of accomplishment.
A direct result is feeling more motivated to continue working out regularly, as we enjoy the positive impact it has on our mood. Regular exercise can also boost mental health if we keep fit with team sports or by hitting the gym.
These enable us to engage in regular social interactions with other people and avoid feeling isolated
or alone. It can also help us feel good about ourselves by showing us that we have the skills to interact with people socially and that people like us. This can then lead us to feel more motivated to fully engage with all aspects of our lives and meet any new challenges head-on.
Get enough sleep
Sleep can often be overlooked when thinking of ways to boost mental health but it’s something that can have a huge impact. It is also something that is relatively simple to control; establishing a healthy sleep routine is something most people can do.
But why is getting enough good quality sleep effective for improving your state of mind? In simple terms, sleep is when our minds rest, recover, and process the day’s events.
Therefore, getting enough good quality rest is key for helping us wake up mentally refreshed the next day. Sleep also helps us to feel more alert, more on the ball, and full of energy to embrace life. It also has
a massive impact on our mood and how sociable we are or how positively we can engage with other people. For all these reasons, it really does pay to get enough good-quality rest, so you protect your mental health and wake up each day feeling fully motivated to excel.
Good tips to build a better sleep routine include going to bed at the same time each night, getting eight hours of quality rest per night, and taking a break from screen time just before bed.
Learn a new skill
It is believed that learning new skills can be a very effective way to improve mental well-being and, in turn, increase how motivated you feel to achieve your life goals. This is because successfully learning a new skill raises your self-esteem and gives you a sense of purpose.
Having a purpose can be especially useful for those who are not working and so have lots of free time to fill each day. In most cases, learning new skills is also a great way to connect with others and boost your sense of self-worth.
Many skills you can learn, for example, will involve attending classes to gain the knowledge required and enable you to meet new people as you go. The really great thing is that there are endless options in terms of new hobbies to take up and there is bound to be something out there you fancy trying.
Get professional help
We have already mentioned how qualified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners provide effective support to people struggling with their state of mind. Seeking expert help from health professionals like this is another good way to boost your mental well-being.
These healthcare professionals will be able to provide a safe space where you can share your
thoughts, express your feelings, and be heard.
In addition, they will be able to diagnose what condition may be affecting you and draw up a treatment plan to combat it. This will not only give you the motivation to tackle your mental health issues but also help you get over them to feel more motivated to make the most of life moving ahead.
Motivation and mental well-being are closely linked
There is little doubt that motivation and mental health levels enjoy a reciprocal relationship which is highly beneficial to us when it works properly. Finding ways to improve your mental health can strike this perfect balance and enable anyone to get the maximum possible from life.
20+ Years as a Special Education Teacher
NASM Certified Nutrition Coach,
Certified Trauma Informed Trainer
Mindset and Motivation Master Life Coach