There is an overwhelming amount of information online teaching people how to live well. Drink water, all the water. Exercise. Read books. Do yoga. Eat healthy foods. The list goes on and on. While all those thing are important, it can be difficult to keep track and balance it all. I put together this quick guide of habits that are achievable and will improve your mental health.
- 1. Be present – It can be difficult to say exactly how much time we should spend off screens because it’s often inevitable. The point here is to try to interact more with your surroundings and less with those screens. I challenge you to enjoy a walk outside and use all your senses to take in the world around you without any distractions or notifications.
- 2. Show some love – Meet up with a friend, share some exciting news with your loved ones or reach out to people you enjoy being around to see how they’re doing. Healthy relationships is a key factor for improving mental health.
- 3. Meditate – A common misconception is that it’s hard to focus when meditating or it takes too long. Meditating is about mindfulness, not being thought-less. Notice those thoughts. Think of them like clouds passing by that you’re not going to try to change or spend too much time with. Start small and focus on your breathing. when your mind starts to wander, gently bring it back to the here and now.
- 4. Sleep – Sleeping is important! Without rest, your mind and body cannot fuel you and let you live your best life. Think about how you can set a goal for yourself to get enough sleep and make it a priority.
- 5. Gratitude – Studies show the positive impact of practicing gratitude on your mental health. Doing this daily can help us gain perspective and notice that even on bad days, we can still be grateful. It’s important to be consistent, because this skill takes some time until you can reap the benefits.