9 Powerful Mental Health Habits

Life, Mental Health Awareness, , , , , , , , 96 Comments

We all struggle with our mental health from time to time. Despite how well known these struggles are many of us still neglect our mental health and do not always practise healthy mental health habits.

Our mental health is just as important as our physical health and it does not take too long to put together strategies to help your well-being. There are certain daily habits that you can implement to keep yourself in good mental health and help boost your mood and self-worth.

#1 Practise gratitude

Gratitude is the art of being thankful and willingness to show appreciation. Gratitude is something that you should begin to practise everyday. Gratitude is strongly associated with greater happiness, it helps you feel more positive emotions and enjoy good experiences. Practising gratitude consistently can reduce anxiety and depression. I have shared 7 meaningful ways you can show gratitude in your life, these are easy steps you can take now.

#2 Commit to a regular digital detox

There are so many mental health benefits from carrying out a digital detox and a positive impact. Spending an increased time on your phone has been linked to increase in anxiety and depression. Being consistently on social media and technology can disrupt your sleep. Taking a regular digital detox or scheduling time each day/week to be offline will be beneficial for your mental health and gives you a break to be present and live in the moment.

a wooden bedside table with a journal, a china mug and a plant

Photo by My Life Journal on Unsplash

#3 Make time for yourself

Making yourself a priority is vital. There is always tasks that need to be completed around the house or work that needs to be done which can lead us all to feel guilty about taking time out for ourselves or having that lazy day you have been craving. However scheduling some time for yourself whether that is a bit of pampering or just going for a walk is important and should be a regular occurrence to avoid burn out. Having a break can help boost your mood and means you are more productive. You can help others if you are not helping yourself.

#4 Exercise

Studies have known that if you exercise in some form 3 times a week it decreases the risk of depression by 19%. Exercise can take all forms, it is not all about going to a gym it can be taking a walk, a home work out, some yoga or even just putting the hoover around the house. Increasing your heart rate can release endorphins that make you feel happy and good. A regular exercise routine will not only help your physical health but also your mental health with keeping your mind clear and working through your stresses or anxieties.

a girl in a red hoodie walking down a path in woodland with a sunset

Photo by Emma Simpson on Unsplash

#5 Journal regularly

Journaling has so many benefits and can change your whole mindset and outlook on your life. The great thing about journaling is there are no rules, you can write about your day or feelings and thoughts. It is your own space to work through or document your experiences. Journaling is a great way to clear your mind and practise gratitude. Sometimes it is difficult to talk through your feelings or thoughts with another person so writing them down in a journal is a great way to release the pressure of those thoughts and feelings.

#6 Have a regular sleep routine

Having a regular sleeping routine or enough sleep is important when looking after your mental health. Lack of sleep can cause you to have low mood, anxiety and poor cognitive function and therefore you are less likely to be productive. Some tips that can help you establish a good sleep routine are; avoid electronic devices late at night, avoid caffeine after 5pm, write down your to-do lists for the next day so you can organise your thoughts and try to go to sleep and wake up at the same time each day.

#7 Get outside in the daylight

There have been numerous studies that have proven that nature has a positive effect on your mental health. Nature boosts your endorphin levels and increases your dopamine production which then promotes happiness. Getting outside and taking some deep breaths can settle the nervous system, which is why it can help if you are struggling with anxiety. Being outside will also boost your Vitamin D levels that can help your physical and mental health. Spending more time outside in daylight can be linked to a better night sleep so you wake up well rested.

a woman meditation outside in the sunshine

Photo by Jared Rice on Unsplash

#8 Stay connected with others

Staying connected with others whether that is family or friends is crucial to your mental health the interaction, the support and companionship can help with feelings of low mood and depression. When you are in that low place having someone to talk to is vital in recovering. It can be hard if you are having a hard mental health day or period but it is important you have someone you know you can reach out too. Building strong connections can increase your feelings of happiness and self-worth.

#9 Show yourself kindness and compassion

I think at one time or another we are all guilty of being too hard on ourselves, self sabotage can be detrimental to your mental health. Having a bad mental health day or period is NOT your fault and during these low times you should especially be showing yourself kindness. Being kind to yourself will increase your mood and your self-worth, I am sure you are always kind to your family and friends, so why not be kind to yourself too?

These are 9 habits that you can implement in your daily lives to promote good mental health and well-being. What is one healthy mental health habit you practise everyday?

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96 thoughts on “9 Powerful Mental Health Habits”

  2. Great post!! Out of the points you mentioned, one mental habit I do is making time for myself! I feel even if that lasts 30 minutes, it is a really good way to take a break and clear your mind! I look forward to reading more of your posts!

    Feel free to read some of my blogs 🙂

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  7. I definitely try to practice most of them daily, especially spending time outside and practicing gratitude. Currently, I’m working on staying in touch with family and friends as usually with depression I will often alienate myself from everyone.

    Thanks for sharing this informative and useful tips

    Loren | Plaid and Sugar

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  8. Hi Lauren. Some great tips there – they all make perfect sense. I suspect many of us know that we should be doing these things … but aren’t doing them. Perhaps focusing on 1 or 2 at a time and then adding more is the way to go?

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  10. The loneliness thing rings true. For the past 2 days I’ve been alone and was feeling sorry for myself. I did nothing productive during this time. I couldn’t imagine living alone – it wouldn’t be good for my mental health. I agree that technology isn’t exactly a good social companion, especially when we are having particularly bad days. One thing that helps me is experimenting with new recipes. As much as I don’t like cooking, trying a new recipe helps lift my mood and it’s a good mental distraction.

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  15. Theses are really great tips. I find it so important to take time for ourselves – it’s really helping me lately, when I’m spending some time doing something that I want to do for me. I also really want to get back in to exercising. I used to get so many benefits from exercising. Thanks for sharing this advice.

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  17. I love all of these tips. During lockdown I’ve been able to exercise and get fresh air daily, as well as have a better sleep routine! It’s been a blessing in disguise and has made a huge difference in my overall well being

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  18. Getting out side is really helpful. This is especially true if you can surround yourself with lots of greenery. I have heard this called forest bathing. It’s weird how it does make you feel better within ten minutes. I used to be skeptical of meditation, but after two weeks you can’t deny the impact

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  20. I love these tips. I’ve managed to get into the habit of journaling, practising gratitude, and doing a digital detox – so now I’m just focusing on exercise. I find that exercising in the morning does wonders for my mental health (along with all the other benefits of it) but it’s just so hard to drag myself out of bed and get out there x

    Roni | myelevatedexistence.com

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  21. I’ve definitely learned some gratitude towards things I already have. I’ve returned to blogging which was always a passion for me ever since I started, and it’s made me feel so much better since I’ve been back. I’ve come up with better post ideas and better post content. Thank You!

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  22. These tips are so good!!! I just started to recognize how much my mental health actually means!! I have noticed when you take time and work on yourself you enjoy life so much more! Thank you for this wonderful blog post!

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  25. These are things that are so important to mental health! I admit I struggle with some of these like being on my phone in bed late at night or drinking caffeine before bed lol. I have a weird addiction to iced coffee and literally crave it all the time! But I try my best to do the rest, at least as much as I can with a hyper active toddler!

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  27. These are some great tips!!! I try to make time for myself every day, as that really helps with self care and looking after my wellbeing! I look forward to reading more of your blogs!

    Feel free to read some of my blogs as well 🙂

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    1. These are all such great suggestions. I’ve been trying to make time offline a part of my routine for a little while now. It does so much good to spend some time in reality x

      Sophie

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  29. I love all of these positive mental health benefits! Going through a regular digital detox is so good for you. I mute my notifications and minimize my usage of social media during the weekdays. Exercising is so good for you!! Going out and getting some sunlight helps a ton. Thanks for sharing these amazing tips!

    Nancy ✨ exquisitely.me

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  30. I love exercising at the end of the day to focus my thoughts into one peaceful place and swimming during the day is an added way for me to soak in sunshine! A regular detox sounds like an amazing idea and something I wish had been doing for a while now.
    Thanks for sharing your suggestions!

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  35. I’ve been trying to focus more on self care and my mental health as I’ve finally realised if I don’t take care of myself how can I take care of my daughter? So this post has come at the right time thank you x

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  40. Some really good points in this blog – exercise is something that REALLY helps me with my mental health. Sleep used to be a big impact, but I find that less so now that I take more effort on other habits that its less of a driver now.

    Thanks for the post 🙂

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  42. These are all really great ideas! I have been trying a lot more recently to take time out for myself and do things that make me feel relaxed. Since the lockdown I have also been doing a lot of walks and that makes me feel so much better! X

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  43. These all sound like amazing important habits for both mental and physical health. I think having time away form screens and being in nature is so important for mental health!

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  45. I have been incorporating Mindfulness in my day to day activities for quite a while now. That helps to deal with anxiety and stress in a more subtle way. Thanks for these wonderful pointers. I think I need to work on a set sleeping schedule.

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  49. Pingback: 9 Powerful Mental Health Habits – THE EVERYDAY JOURNAL

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