Developing good mental health habits is vital in nurturing our overall well being and helping us lead happier and less stressful lives.
To be honest with you, for the longest time, I never really placed any importance on my mental health. I thought that as long as I was physically healthy and doing all my responsibilities then that was more than enough. I continued to constantly push myself to achieve more and meet every expectation thinking that this was the key to a happier life.
It didn’t really matter how mentally and emotionally exhausted I felt, I still continued to ignore all the warning signs that my mind was telling me and I just went on ahead and kept ignoring all my needs. It wasn’t until I finally broke down that I realized just how miserable and broken I was.
It was during that low moment that I finally faced the harsh truth that our overall well being and happiness could never be only based on our physical health and achievements. Our mental health is just as important as our physical health. Constantly putting it on the back burner will only lead to a detrimental and negative cycle that will affect every aspect of our lives.
Now I truly believe that one of the most vital keys to lasting happiness and inner peace is prioritizing our mental health. In this blog post, I will be sharing with you small habits that have drastically helped in improving my mental health. I hope that some of these habits will resonate with you and encourage you to always remember that taking care of our needs and making our mental health a priority is never a waste of time.
Habits That Will Improve Your Mental Health
1. Complain Less
Do you ever find yourself constantly complaining about every little thing? I’m certainly not saying that complaining is a bad thing because it’s not. Complaining can be a great avenue for us to express our frustrations and vent out but when it becomes a constant habit, that’s when it starts being a problem.
I was guilty of this too. When I hit rock bottom, my habit of complaining magnified. I was constantly dwelling on every minor inconvenience and setback, turning them into larger issues than they truly were.
I would constantly complain about even the smallest issue and every time someone pointed out how negative and a complainer I’ve become, I would simply justify it to myself that I was going through a lot and I was allowed to feel this way. While it’s certainly true that everyone deserves the space to express their feelings, I was using my circumstances as an excuse to continue and dwell on my negative outlook.
At that time, I honestly thought that it was the best thing to do. I thought that by focusing on all the negative things I was somehow pushing myself to work harder and to be more motivated in improving my situation. But what it did was the exact opposite.
Constantly complaining and dwelling only on the negatives did not help solve my problems. It only made me feel worse. It not only made my mental health worse, it also clouded my perspective to the point that I couldn’t see a way out. It made me feel so defeated and hopeless that I started believing that my situation would never get better.
I’ve learned that while it’s healthy to complain sometimes and release those pent-up emotions, it’s also crucial to not let it become a habit that takes over our lives. We have to balance our complaints with a focus on solutions instead of only dwelling on the problems. Take note of the moments you find yourself complaining. Each time, ask yourself what you can do about the situation.
Doing this can help us become more aware of our patterns and prompts us to think more about solutions. Learning to complain less not only helps us focus on more productive thoughts but also improves our mental and emotional well-being.
2. Be Present
Do you ever find yourself constantly ruminating on all the what-ifs of the future or the could-haves of the past? It’s so easy to get caught up in this loop. I know I have been in this situation a thousand times.
I have always had this habit of thinking about all the what-ifs of the future, planning for every possible scenario, and worrying about everything that might go wrong. I thought that I was doing a good thing by thinking ahead. I thought that as long as I was doing this I could somehow prevent any mistakes or bad things from happening.
But of course, that was not possible because life will always be full of constant surprises and regardless of how hard we try to predict all the what-ifs of the future, it still won’t guarantee that we’ll avoid all difficulties or challenges.
Honestly, allowing myself to get caught up in the future only fueled my anxiety. It only magnified my worries and it took so much toll on my mental health.
Instead of actually enjoying the things that are happening in the present moment, I was so busy worrying about what might happen next that I missed out on the joy of the experiences right in front of me.
Life is by far too precious and too short to spend so much of our time ruminating on the future and dwelling on the past. One of the best habits that we can learn to practice for our mental health and happiness is being present. It’s important to remember that choosing to be present doesn’t mean that we are leaving it to chance or that we are failing to plan or prepare for what lies ahead.
Rather, it means that we are consciously deciding to live in the moment, to focus our energy on what we can control right now, and to let go of the unnecessary stress that comes from trying to predict every possible outcome. Learning to live in the present moment helps us lead more balanced and fulfilling lives. A life where we are not paralyzed by worries about what’s to come or weighed down by regrets of what has been.
One of the things that helped me cultivate the habit of being present is by practicing mindfulness through daily rituals. Whether it’s taking a few minutes each morning to meditate, going for a walk without distractions, or simply focusing on my breath when I feel overwhelmed, these small practices anchor me to the present moment.
3. Stop Negative Self Talk
Are you also guilty of being your own worst critic? Most of us are. It’s so easy to get caught up in the cycle of being overly critical of ourselves and constantly beating ourselves up over our perceived flaws, mistakes, and shortcomings. I’m certainly guilty of doing this.
For the longest time, I have always been my own harshest critic. I honestly thought that this was the best thing to do. I thought that constantly beating myself up for every little mistake was somehow pushing me to become better and preventing me from making the same mistakes again. I didn’t realize that constantly criticizing myself was not only destroying my confidence and self esteem but I was also harming my mental health.
I was constantly stressed and overwhelmed and I was so afraid of making any mistakes to the point that I would rather just stay put instead of taking any risk or pursuing new opportunities. By being overly critical of myself, I started believing that I was not good enough to do anything. It made me miserable and so unhappy.
If you’re guilty of being your own worst critic too, please know that you deserve to give yourself the same amount of love, kindness, and understanding that you so freely give to other people. Just because you make mistakes doesn’t mean that you are no longer worthy of love, understanding, and second chances.
You have to stop beating yourself up and learn to give yourself the compassion that you deserve. We have to keep reminding ourselves that constant negative self talk not only greatly destroys our mental and emotional health but it also keeps us from truly growing. When we are constantly judging ourselves for even the smallest mistake, we are only keeping ourselves trapped in a cycle of fear and self doubt.
Know that self compassion is not being self indulgent. When we offer ourselves kindness and understanding, especially when life gets hard, we are not only giving ourselves a safe space to heal and move forward but we are also building a foundation for genuine personal growth and resilience.
Self-compassion allows us to acknowledge our struggles without being overwhelmed by them. It empowers us to face challenges with a balanced perspective, recognizing that it’s okay to be imperfect and that setbacks are a natural part of the human experience.
Do you want to start loving yourself more? Take this 30 day self love challenge now.
4. Gratitude Practice
Another good mental health habit is practicing daily gratitude. I truly believe that gratitude is one of the most vital keys to improving our mental health and helping us find joy in small things. Honestly, for the longest time, I didn’t think that way.
For years, I thought that practicing daily gratitude was nothing but toxic positivity. Sure, it’s easy to practice it when everything in our lives is going smoothly but when our lives are falling apart, finding something to be grateful for just seems impossible. I used to hate it when people just told you to “be grateful” even when you’re going through something.
To me, that felt dismissive and invalidating. It wasn’t until I was going through a low point in my life that I truly realized how important practicing daily gratitude was. When I was navigating that difficult time, my first approach was to focus all my energy and attention on my problems and nothing else. I thought that doing this would somehow push me to work harder and encourage me to find more solutions quickly.
But what it did was the exact opposite. Instead of actually motivating me, it just made things more overwhelming. Focusing solely on my problems made me feel more defeated and hopeless. The more I dwelled on what was going wrong, the more I felt trapped in a cycle of negativity, unable to see a way out.
I’ve learned that practicing daily gratitude is not about minimizing the problems that we are facing or invalidating the pain that we are feeling. It’s certainly not about pretending that everything is okay. It’s about choosing to acknowledge the fact that the good can coexist with the bad.
It’s about finding balance in the midst of chaos and recognizing that, even during our darkest moments, there are still rays of light worth holding onto. Yes, practicing gratitude may not erase the struggles that we are facing but it does give us the strength and the hope that we need to keep moving forward.
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- 7 Ways To Calm Your Mind Before Bed
- 7 Worst Habits For Your Mental Health
- How To Care For Your Mental Health This Holiday Season: 5 Easy Steps
5. Spend Some Quality Time Alone
Spending some time alone is not only beneficial to our personal growth but it also greatly benefits our mental health. For some of us, we often spend most of our time surrounded by other people. Constantly engaging with other people’s needs and emotions.
We rush from one obligation to another barely having time to breathe or even think for ourselves. We keep thinking that spending some alone time is nothing but a waste of time, especially when we already have so much on our plate. I used to think this too.
I thought that carving out time for solitude was nothing but a luxury. Something that we only get to do when everything else is taken care of, like a reward instead of a necessity. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. I failed to realize that neglecting to spend some time alone was not only detrimental to my mental health but it was also greatly impacting my happiness and inner peace.
I’ve learned that spending some time alone is not only vital but essential for maintaining a healthy mental state. Doing this allows us the space to breathe, reset, and reconnect with ourselves. We have to keep reminding ourselves that spending some time alone is not selfish. Doing this doesn’t mean that we are ignoring our responsibilities or neglecting our relationships.
It simply means that we are taking the necessary steps to ensure that we can handle all these aspects of our lives with greater care and compassion. By allowing ourselves the chance to recharge, we can approach our responsibilities with renewed energy and focus and a clearer mind. So, please don’t ever feel guilty for spending some time alone. Know that you deserve to take some time for yourself.
6. Develop A Bedtime Routine
Another good mental health habit is developing a bedtime routine. Do you ever just find yourself lying in bed, unable to switch off your thoughts and relax? I can’t even begin to tell you the number of times I’ve found myself in this situation.
Every night, I would spend hours just lying there, twisting and turning and my thoughts spiraling out of control. It wasn’t only exhausting and draining but it was also negatively impacting my mental health. It made me so irritable during the day and it just made it harder to focus and enjoy things I normally love.
It was during a breaking point that pushed me to try creating a bedtime routine. I was reluctant at first, I didn’t believe that doing this would somehow help me manage my sleep better, but I was desperate for a change.
First, I set a strict bedtime and no gadget rule an hour before bed. I also introduced some deep breathing exercises. I wasn’t really expecting how these small changes can make such a huge difference. This made me realize just how crucial having a bedtime routine is, not just to better manage our sleep but also for the benefit of our mental health and well being.
Doing this allows us the chance to wind down and prepare our minds and bodies for sleep. It gives us the chance to step away from the stresses and chaos of our day and just breathe. You can start simple with just a few adjustments to ease into the night.
Know that you don’t have to make big changes all at once. Gradually introduce small, manageable habits into your routine. Perhaps begin by turning off all screens at least 30 minutes before bed, then slowly extend that time as it becomes more comfortable.
7. Forgive More
Forgiveness is not always easy. Often, it’s one of the most difficult things that we can do. I definitely understand this. When I was growing up, I was deeply hurt by the people that I love.
I was made to feel like I was nothing and that no matter what I did, I would never be worthy of their love. I took this anger with me as I grew older and I’ve allowed myself to hold on to this resentment thinking that as long as I was doing this, I was protecting myself from being hurt again.
I thought that as long as I was angry and resentful, I could maintain a barrier that would keep me safe. But over time, I realized that holding onto this anger was doing so much more harm than good. It not only made me so bitter and angry at the world but it also prevented me from truly healing and moving forward.
You see, the longer that we allow ourselves to hold on to those resentments, the longer we are also keeping ourselves imprisoned in our past. Doing this does not only make us feel miserable and stuck but it also greatly takes so much toll on our mental and emotional health.
One of the best things that we can do for ourselves is to practice forgiveness. I know that this is not easy but one thing that we have to remind ourselves about forgiveness is that it’s not about minimizing the wrong that they have done or invalidating the pain that they have caused.
It’s about choosing to set ourselves free from the past and finally allowing ourselves a safe space to heal and let go of that emotional weight that we have been carrying with us for so long. It’s time to set yourself free and embrace a future where you are not defined by your scars but by your resilience and capacity to grow beyond them.
Yes, the journey to forgiveness may not be immediate. We may have to do it a hundred times before it gets easier. Each time we choose to forgive, we chip away at the wall of resentment we’ve built around ourselves. Know that with every step that you take towards forgiveness, you are also choosing to prioritize your mental health and peace of mind.
Final Thoughts
These are just some of the habits that can greatly help in improving our mental health. Know that you don’t have to incorporate all of them into your daily life, choose what resonates most with you, and don’t hesitate to experiment to find what best suits your lifestyle and needs.
Know that it’s okay to start small, you can start by integrating one habit at a time and observe how it impacts your mental well-being. If something doesn’t seem to work, don’t be discouraged, adjust and try different approaches until you find your rhythm.
You can do this and please remember that I’m always rooting for you!
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