How are you feeling today? Sometimes we have those days when we are just surviving instead of living. Or maybe you have a lot of those days. I can’t help you to fix your mental health issues/illness overnight, but there are a few little things you can do for your mental health. I used them too when I was/am struggling with my mental health. But there were also some days that these things didn’t work. If that happens to you, don’t get angry. Just be kind to yourself and remember: tomorrow is a new day.
7 little things you can do for your mental health
Meditate
It can be overwhelming when you get a lot of negative thoughts. The only reason why you get those thoughts constantly is that you’ve been allowing those thoughts to take over your mind. But there is a way to quiet the mind and that is meditation. A lot of people think meditation is just for spiritual people who are trying to find themselves in India. The truth is that meditation is beneficial for everyone. Meditating every single day can help you to quiet the mind, but it also has a lot of other benefits. So it is always worth it to try.
Do fun things
We all have to do things we don’t want. Maybe you are still at school but you don’t really enjoy it. Or maybe you are stuck in a job you don’t like and you are looking for something else. But the good news is, you are not working/studying all day long. You still have time to do things you actually like to do. Find out what brings you joy and do those things after school/work. Most people, at least around me, think the day ends when they come home from work. They have dinner and watch tv all night. But if you come home around 6 and you go to bed at 10 pm, you still have 4 hours for your hobbies. And who knows? Maybe you can turn that into your new job.
Exercise
When you exercise, your brain/body releases a few feel-good chemicals and that is why some people are addicted to exercising. I would recommend finding a sport you like to do, even walking for 30 minutes is good. But I think if you find a sport that you actually enjoy, it is easier to do it multiple times per week. Maybe you like rollerskating or dance work-outs. This way you are having fun AND you have the benefits of exercising.
Get enough sleep
You get moody when you don’t sleep enough hours every single night. Of course, it can happen if you have a bad night once. But if you don’t get enough sleep on purpose because you want to watch another episode on Netflix, you are sabotaging your own happiness. You should take care of yourself and getting enough sleep is a part of that. Don’t wait for the weekend to catch up on your sleep. When you get enough sleep, you will feel so much better and you are in a better mood. It is easier to deal with stressful situations too.
Change thoughts
We all agree that some thoughts feel better than other thoughts but somehow most people are still focused on the thoughts they don’t want to have. They are mostly thinking about the things they don’t want. But you do have the power to change your focus to the things you want. Every time you get a thought that does not feel good to you, you can start thinking about something else. Maybe you can start daydreaming about the things you like or want.
Spend more time around happy people
Have you ever been around people that are always complaining? Maybe you then have noticed that you don’t feel great around those people and maybe you started to complain too. That means that the opposite is also true. When you spend more time with people who are happy and excited, you will get excited too. You will be in a better mood, you will laugh more which is good for your mental health.
Clean house
One thing I have noticed is that when my place is messy, I feel less positive and motivated. But once I start cleaning up, I start to feel better. Maybe it is a combination of exercising or maybe it is true what they say about a clean house means a clean mind. It also makes me feel I have my life together when everything is clean.
So if you notice, you are not feeling great and your place is a mess right now, start cleaning. It’s better than sitting on the couch thinking about your life.
Photo by Eric Ward on Unsplash