Mental health is just as important as physical health.  It is just unfortunate that it is not given the attention and care it needs and deserves.  When you really think about it, your mental health has a lot to do with your accomplishing the goals you have set.  If you have mental health issues, you won’t be able to focus on the things you want to accomplish.  Chances are, you’ll even have a hard time determining what you really want. 

The thing is, maintaining good mental health requires more than just the occasional self-care practices.  To have good mental health, you need to develop new habits that promote positive thoughts and elicit positive feelings.

In this post, we’ll explore simple habits that can help you feel happier and improve your mental health.

Get the recommended 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night.  Aside from all the other amazing health benefits that sleep brings, it is important to note that sleep reduces stress, improves mood and helps prevent mental health disorders.

Exercise.  There are many ways you can do this.  You can run, swim, attend an aerobics class, dance, ride a bike, etc.  Do whatever it takes to release those happy hormones.  If you need to wake up earlier just to have time for it like I do, you have got to.   You’ll get to lose weight too!  That’s hitting two birds with one stone. It will not only allow you to release endorphins, it will also make you look and feel good.

Keep a gratitude journal.  Write two or three things you’re thankful for every day.  Knowing that good things are happening for you on a daily basis will improve the way you feel about whatever situation you’re in and help you develop a more positive outlook on life.

Spend less time on social media.  While social media brings a lot of benefits, it can also cause comparison, negativity, anxiety and toxicity.  So if you want to stay away from negative thoughts and feelings, it will be good to evaluate your use of social media and cut back on the time you spend on it.  Better use that extra time you have for developing real and meaningful relationships with those around you.

Eat healthy.  Choose your food and drink wisely.   Enjoy your greens every meal and snack on fruits and nuts.  Go for foods that support mental health like berries, bananas, beans, and salmon.  At the same time, stay away from added sugars, alcohol and other foods that may make anxiety symptoms even worse.

You have to remember that your stomach is directly connected to your brain. Healthy food choices will help your brain function the way it’s supposed to.

Soak up some sun.  Get your share of the morning sun. Five to Ten minutes under the morning sun will give you Vitamin D which, according to studies, can do wonders for your attitude and mood.  Just remember to apply some sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays.  

Pray.  I find that prayer helps me feel less alone and gives me the courage to face my anxieties and fears. Knowing that someone powerful and all-knowing is by my side brings me peace of mind.

Keep your living space and workspace clutter-free.  Make it a habit to put things back in their proper place after you use them.  Don’t leave things just lying around on tabletops and counter surfaces where they shouldn’t be. A clutter-free environment can help you think clearer, focus more, feel lighter and ultimately feel so much happier.

Engage in deep breathing exercises. You can do this before you even get out of bed in the morning. Inhale for four counts, hold for four counts, exhale for four counts then repeat. Some recommend inhaling for 6, holding for 7 and exhaling for 8. Whatever way you choose, deep breathing can do amazing things not only for your mental health but also for your physical health.

List down your tasks. When I was still working as a grade school teacher, academic and co-curricular activities of the kids always overlapped. At the time, I was not yet used to listing things down. And so everything was jumbled up in my mind like a tangled and knotted up ball of yarn or like I used to call it “cobwebs” in my mind.

It was a heavy burden to bear. I would go through my lunch hour sitting with the kids, making sure they ate while going through the cobwebs inside my head and making sure I didn’t forget anything.

In 2015, I discovered the magical world of planners. I started listing down my to-do’s and for the first time in years, my mind became clearer. My mind finally had the space to breathe because everything was listed down on paper. Life became so much lighter.

So, these are 10 habits that I hope you’d try. They’re working for me and I hope they’ll work for you too.

Keeping yourself mentally healthy can be tricky sometimes,  but when you are committed and do your best to develop healthy habits, mental health care will just be second nature to you.