5 Lessons On Mental Health From Deepika Padukone’s Conversation With Arianna Huffington

Deepika Padukone, an advocate for mental health and founder of the Live Love Laugh Foundation, recently engaged in a meaningful conversation with Arianna Huffington, the founder and CEO of Huffington Post and Thrive Global, in honour of World Mental Health Day on October 10. During their discussion, they touched on various topics that influence mental well-being, including the importance of recovery time and handling negative feedback. Deepika, who recently welcomed a baby girl, also candidly shared how postpartum sleep deprivation has impacted her decision-making process.

Here are the 5 takeaways from the intriguing conversation for The Live Laugh Love Foundation:

Rest And Recovery Are A Must

While talking about the need for hitting pause sometimes, Arianna Huffington noted that downtime is a feature and not a bug. Agreeing with her, Deepika Padukone added that, being a national-level badminton player, she understands that one needs rest and recovery to perform better and work more effectively. Deepika further said that we need to encourage a culture where taking time off for ourselves is normalised. Sharing her thoughts, she said, “Things have started to change but there’s still this notion that if someone needs downtime or time for themselves, they’re not motivated or not driven.”

Burnout Affects Decision-Making

Sleep deprivation leads to stress, which eventually also affects decision-making skills. Reflecting on her experience post having a child, the actress noted, “I know on particular days when I am feeling stressed or burnt out because I haven’t slept enough or practice my self-care rituals… I can tell that my decision-making is getting affected to some extent.” Arianna, too, agreed with her adding that people have forgotten the need to take care of themselves while prioritising professional accomplishments.

Do Not Hold Grudges

Recalling the time when a bad review after her debut movie Om Shanti Om left her with negativity, Deepika emphasised the need to use negative feedback positively. When speaking on the feedback and how it drains you, Arianna noted that holding grudges affects our mental health.

Microsteps Are Key To Healthy Habits

The conversation also saw Arianna speaking on the importance of starting small, highlighting the importance of microsteps in creating healthier habits. “I think whether it’s nutrition or exercise, we often take on something that’s not sustainable and then slip back into old habits. So it’s important to make small changes that eventually become a part of your life,” advised Deepika Padukone.

Be Patient

It is important to understand that “Failure is not the opposite of success but a stepping stone to success,” as Arianna’s mother told her. Deepika, responding to her, remarked that one needs to be patient, as every bad thing that happens in life is for a reason, pushing you to do something that you never thought of or imagined.