New Delhi, Nov. 25 -- Mental health isn't only contingent on major life events; it is built every day through small habits that may, on the surface, seem mundane. From the moment you rise until bedtime, the specifics of how your brain and body manage stress, seek joy, and find balance shape your overall well-being.

In modern hyperconnected and high-pressure times, our mental health is often an afterthought to our productivity. Many people operate through fatigue, shun sleep or stare at screens without realising the long-term damage it's doing to their emotional health.

Dr Mukesh Patel, Professor of Psychiatry, Dr DY Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Pimpri, Pune, says, "Our brain loves routine. When ...