Doesn’t it bother you when you tune in to reality TV shows and see family members bickering and sometimes physically fighting with each other? It is evident that these people do not mind quarreling in front of the camera since they want to be authentic. Their goal is to present how they live their lives and wait for the audience’s reactions.

No one is in any position to advise these families against shooting a program about themselves, of course, but you can see from the way they interact that they hardly promote mental wellness. Everyone can do whatever; parents and kids often go on a heated match over mundane things. That is not how a family is supposed to treat each other in real life, to be honest.

Should you not want your own household to end up as chaotic as that in reality TV shows, learn some mental wellness tips for families below.

Share Meals As A Whole

You better believe that a family that eats together understands one another. See, in front of the dining table, you have a chance to talk about your day and ask for your loved ones’ opinions on particular topics. You can catch up with your siblings and bond more with your parents. It is especially significant when you are all grownups who already lead different lives.

Ensure Everyone Gets Enough Sleep

Do you notice how grumpy a colleague can be when he or she suffers from sleep deprivation? You are free to avoid that person because you only see him or her at work.

“The amount of sleep you get and the quality of that sleep can actually affect your physical and mental health in ways you don’t anticipate.” Julia Hogan, LCPC said. In case the moody individual in your life happens to be someone you’re living with, though, you ought to make sure that this family member – as well as everybody else – gets enough sleep every night. Otherwise, it’s impossible to prevent clashes within the house.

Don’t Harbor Negative Feelings

Another issue that can dampen a family’s mental wellness is their lack of initiative to speak their mind, primarily when it involves sharing what they dislike about a particular brother or sister. Perhaps it is because we are all brought up to only say nice things about someone; therefore, it seems uncomfortable to voice out negative feelings toward the same person. However, harboring ill emotions can lead to bigger fights that may damage the familial relationship deeply. “Negative thoughts are just a part of life, but they don’t have to consume you. Instead of trying to ignore those thoughts altogether, try countering them with positive statements.” Licensed clinical psychologist John Mayer, Ph.D. explains.

Stop Expecting Too Much

Lastly, try not to expect so many things from your family members. If you presume that a loved one will do this or that, regardless when you know how well they keep or forget their promises, you are at high risk of experiencing disappointment. That can never result in positive mental wellness since the displeasure can push you to confront the person until you two start hurting one another emotionally. “If they push and don’t respect your boundary, then that’s a red flag. If they express disappointment, but understanding, then these are likely the people that like you for ‘you’ and not what you can do for them,” says Erika Martinez, PsyD.

To Sum Things Up

Within a household, it should not only be the mother or the father who is mentally healthy. The kids, the grandparents, or whoever else living under your roof should have a stable mind so that peace and harmony can always prevail at home.

Try following the tips above to begin your family’s mental wellness journey.