7 healthy habits to achieve, and maintain, inner balance

Optimal health and well-being means taking care of physical, mental and emotional aspects.

At SHA Wellness Clinic we know that it is impossible to enjoy an optimal state of health and well-being without a balanced body, mind and spirit, three elements that are closely related. That is why the SHA Method incorporates and combines a range of complementary disciplines and therapies that work in synergy, making it possible for you to be the best version of yourself at any age. Because physical, emotional and mental aspects have to be in perfect harmony if you want to live a full life. Celebrate World Mental Health Day by putting into practice these tips, offered by SHA’s multidisciplinary team, which will help you achieve the inner balance you desire.

1. Healthy nutrition

Nature is so wise that it provides all the nutrients the body needs every season of the year. That is why seasonal fruit and vegetables are the best, most sustainable option for maintaining good mental health. María Romeralo, SHA nutritionist, recommends “increasing the consumption of vegetable proteins and whole grains and avoiding processed foods and refined sugars, which cause a lot of mental fog and emotional ups and downs”.

2. Restorative rest

Not resting properly means waking up tired and lacking in energy, which increases irritability and causes a significant deterioration in cognitive abilities. Vicente Mera, a specialist in Sleep Medicine at SHA, shares the keys to getting a good night’s sleep. “Follow a healthy diet free of stimulants and alcohol, do moderate and constant physical exercise, but never at night, have a light dinner at least two hours before going to bed and get ready for bed, always before midnight, with relaxing practices like meditation, yoga and conscious breathing”.

3. Brain training

Bruno Ribeiro, head of the Cognitive Development and Brain Stimulation Unit at SHA, explains that “to develop all the potential stored in the mind and have optimal mental agility, dedicating 10 to 15 minutes a day to an activity that has nothing to do with work and that stimulates cognitive capacities is crucial. For example, doing Sudoku or crossword puzzles or spending time reading”.

4. Physical exercise

Practising any sporting activity on a regular basis is essential when it comes to achieving inner balance. Because, in addition to all the physical benefits, such as weight control and strengthening of bones and muscles, endorphins and hormones are released, such as serotonin or norepinephrine, which help improve your mood, control stress and reduce negative feelings related to depression and anxiety.

5. Energetic health

The human body functions with an electrical frequency that can be altered by excessive electromagnetic radiation generated by a mobile phone, computer or tablet, which can distort intercellular communication and lead to health imbalances. For vital energy to flow freely and without interference, Amalia Rubio, head of SHA’s Energy Unit, recommends “turning off your Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or router when you’re not using it, talking more with the loudspeaker and using wired headphones, not carrying the phone too close to the skin and putting it on airplane mode whenever possible”.

6. Think short-term

Learning to manage the stress, anxiety or fear that the global health crisis has caused for many people is vitally important so that you can adapt to the new reality as quickly as possible. Cinthya Molina, psychologist at SHA, advises “not to try and repress these negative emotions, but to accept them and learn to manage them so that they don’t become an obstacle in the way. Focus on the present, on the positive and on what you can control, and stop making long-term plans, something that has created a lot of frustration. Thinking in the short term is very healthy mentally”.

7. Feeling good about yourself

Physical appearance is a basic building block for achieving inner balance, because looking good on the outside helps us to feel good on the inside, raising levels of self-esteem and confidence. Which is why at SHA we provide our guests with state-of-the-art equipment and the most advanced techniques in dermo-aesthetics that allow us to perform minimally invasive treatments to delay the signs of ageing and enhance each individual’s natural beauty.