How can I improve my mental health?

Magnus P.
To improve our mental health, it is important to understand what mental health means in the first place. Though it is important to distance ourselves from our pain in the sense that we can objectively look at what is happening with space and wisdom so that we may know that this pain is not us, that it does not define us—it is still important to remember that the mind is a part of us and that mental health is about peace, presence, alignment with our values and goals, and that it is also about how we respond to life and the human experience of pain, pleasure, and love.
What being healthy, well, and happy looks like can be drastically different for each of us. However, there are a few truths to keep in mind from ancient wisdom and contemporary psychology: mental health is not a permanent smile on our faces, nor is it an unrealistic day to day life where everything is perfect and we only feel pleasure. Mental health is resilience, inner strength, awareness, interconnectedness to others and to our truth, and in a more spiritual sense it is like the yin and yang, a balance of light and darkness where the darkness is absorbed by the light and where our minds may be dark but the light is never destroyed.
In the day to day, taking care of our mental health can involve seeing a qualified therapist that we connect with. Mental health also looks like prioritizing our needs above those of others with compassion for ourselves. A close friend of mine struggled with difficult life situations and refused to see a therapist because they didn’t possess the means to pay. I insisted that it was important to consider their needs first and to recognize how to fulfill those needs in healthful ways. They didn’t listen, and their health worsened, until they realized that they spent enough money buying video games and clothes to numb their pain that they could afford a therapist all along.
Other ways to improve is by developing (slowly and with compassion) habits like meditating, exercising, doing yoga regularly, eating much more vegetables and fruits, asking for help when we need it, getting a good night’s sleep, and reconnecting with the activities, places, and people we love.
I wish you the best of luck.
Josefa Z.
I ask my self this every day as I too struggle with mental health. Every day I try to meditate, do exercise of some sort, go outside and take my Dog for an hours walk in the morning etc and write about my day and how I feel before bed. Writing what I'm grateful for and what my goals for tomorrow are really good as when I finish them I'll feel like I've accomplished something.

Tristan Z.
Make time for yourself. I know that seems obviously, because really, all time is for you. But, make time to actively reflect on and work towards improving your mental health. It can be really hard, though, especially to start. But start with something small and recruit a friend, neighbor, anyone you trust, and ask them for help. People want to help us, we just have to ask for it.
Lenny Q.
To improve means to work it out and to upgrade. Aside from reading helpful books and other reading materials, browsing the internet seems to worm. Solving puzzles and problems will also enhance my mental health.
R Mulo T.
You should cultivate strong mind and take decisions. First: start bulding habits that make you feel good in the morning, purchase a Gratitude Journal and start writing, always have your Portable Altar with you for worshipping your benefactors. All these will help you understand your values and your spiritual purpose. Second: start preparing a vision for each of your areas in life: nature, broader family, children, friends, intangible assets, mental health, physical health, profession, spouse, tangible assets. This will give you more clarity over your life purpose and your role on this earth and thus you will be able to inderstand what is important and what not. Third: start tracking how much time you spend daily on what activities, how much value you bring to the society on daily basis and where do you spend your money. This will help you create measures for deciding easier on the next steps.
Rosemary P.
Writing helps me through hard time. Writing helps us have more time to gather our thoughts in order, to reflect to contemplate mental problems more clearly. Asking for external help from family and the ones you trust most can be even more rewarding when you can express your problems freely, thus find solutions in no time. Sometimes all we need is speaking aloud our thoughts and problems. At the time, problems can be solved by themselves.
Johnny G.
Taking time to get to know what makes you happy and being grateful for things around you. Sometimes you can find more joy than you think from being grateful for what and who you have in your life, compared to a lot of other people! Think positive !!
Corentin C.
It depends on what you’re struggling with. Generally, you can improve your mental health by cutting toxic people out of your life, or decluttering your life, whether it be physically, mentally, or digitally. Talking to people you trust often can also help, and so can reevaluating decisions that are causing you unhappiness or distress.
Sara J.
1. Channel your inner energy and thoughts.
2. Think positive.
3.. Think about yourself and what you want from your life.
4. Meditate and do yoga.
Christian C.
To improving your mental health you will have to exercise your brain and resting. Meaning doing something to get your brain to work more, like reading and solving riddles or anything that keep your brain mving like a train. Also you need to rest your brain. Keeping your brain active and having it rest. Never over work you brsin, it's like over working your body. If you don't rest you function the way you want your body to be, so rest is good thing.
Jeppe W.
You can improve your mental health by taking sessions with therapist, creating a self-care routine (getting enough sleep, prefering small tasks over big ones which are impossible to complete) and being gentle with yourself. You need to stop blaming yourself for doing "not enough" and start small in any field to avoid burn outs.
Allie Z.
I am sure this has been suggested to you already but I have found meditation and the idea of "give your problems a holiday " very helpful
Mathilde W.
I think that my mental health improves: when I take time to observe rather than judge my surroundings and myself; when I search out positives to out way the negative experiences of a day; and when I get outside to enjoy a walk in nature which inevitably heightens my senses and creativity.
Gavin R.
By reading books , meditating , taking time to reflect on the day and look at what i did wrong and try to find a better way to do it next time , talking to self and ask how I feel .
Emily C.
It depends on your specific mental health. A huge step that helped me was picking the "one big thing" activity in Fabulous. I'm far less anxious about all the stuff I need to do, because I'm doing them on at a time and just getting them done. It worked ten times better than anything like "think positively" and therefore I've found it easier to stick to. Your doctor is an important player in this, if you have any mental health problems that are worrying you. It took me a while to get diagnosed but once the ball started rolling it felt like it all came together in one go. It's a huge relief to have a diagnosis for some people. Routine, in general, helps your resilience so try to form on you can stick to and makes you feel good about yourself. Stay hydrated, eat well, exercise, and go outdoors are clinically proven methods. Meditation doesn't help everybody, but is very effective for the people it does help.
Cathy P.
I'm not here to get you to buy the app… but headspace. My mind was an anxiety ridden, worrying, rabbit trail, squirl chasing nuclear war zone.
Until headspace. Now, I dont even know what a distracting thought is. Get the headspace app if you want to improve your mental health.
Mads Z.
From personal experience, you have to give yourself self love. In whatever way that suites you best. There are so many little ways to do that, it's simple and you'll feel mentally stronger in no time. Some examples are reading a good book, listening to your favorite band, getting sunshine, being outdoors, exercising, baths, massages, and so much more. By consistently doing little things that make you feel good, your mind will begin to feel good too. You'll become happier, more grounded, and optimistic. Good luck!
Frederik W.
Find what works for you – meditation, coaching, therapy, journaling, exercise, finding a hobby you love, socializing with friends and family. All of these and more can help.

That said, if you’re experiencing unusual symptoms or feel like it’s more than just the blues or needing to create healthier habits, definitely see a mental health professional.

Bruce Z.
If you can afford it, I can’t recommend therapy enough. It has honestly changed my life. Cheaper alternatives include journaling or even meditation and yoga. 🧘🏻‍♀️
Lea C.
To have in the front of my mind to remember my quote…"share a smile " to stand strong during a horrible work enviroment….grin n bear it for now, blue skies are nearby! To wake in a happy mood after 8hrs of sleep, to pick up my hand weights do 5-10min of arm workout, to stretch on the floor. To apply makeup do hair and feel good about myself, gives me a good start! Finally to get my Momma hug and kiss before my child leaves for football.
Laura B.
It is important that you do not try things for yourself. Seek the help of professionals. And for the small things, count on the fabulous app
Arianna U.
It is not easy and will take patience and persistence. I first think seeing a behavioral therapist is a great step and some times medication is helpful.
A great start and routine to get into everyday, is eat a great breakfast, workout, take care of yourself physically , shower , shave look and smell nice. Tell yourself your gonna have a great day outloud in the mirror. Eat more veggies for lunch and try to drink a minimum of 80 oz of water a day. Track your thoughts in a journal each night to reflect on your day maybe even track your mood and your food it helps me a lot. All of these things sound easy but most of us forget how important they are. I hope this helps ♡
Ma Line T.
Exercise and eating well go such a long way… I didn't buy into this for a long time into my adult life, but as a person who deals with generalized anxiety, these two simple, holistic habits have had the biggest, most positive impact on my daily and long-term mental health.
Magdalena I.
That is a big question. It depends where you are at right now. First step is a good GP and a diagnosis and a plan. If you're already on top of all that, and you're just having a bad time, then you need water, high quality fresh food, and more exercise. I like to put on some upbeat music and dance around the house, especially when it's too cold to go outside and walk! I recommend as much sun as you can get. And, finally, nothing beats a good routine.
Est Ban Z.
Something I've been doing recently that has really been helping me is not being so hard on myself. If I sit around in my pajamas all day and eat junk food, I acknowledge that I have fallen short of the expectations that I have for myself. I tell myself that I am going to do better tomorrow, even if it's just by a little bit and that it's okay to have bad days. I then follow through with doing better the next day and celebrate that victory. I then tell myself that tomorrow is going to be even better, even if just buy a little.
Gerry C.
Take time out of the day to meditate, and be mindful. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed at times. Recognize your emotions, don’t try to shove them down- identify them, why are you feeling this way? What triggered it? Identify distortions in your thoughts (Woebot app). Wish you the best!
Constance Z.
Proper diet and finding time to exercise is what most would say but that's also the same people who are debilitated by their mental health.. it took ,e years to find the right doctor that helped, with a combination of therapy, medication, amd meditation. Feel free to email me at [email protected] if you have more questions
Oseas N.
Start slowly, just as you would for physical health. When we begin new fitness routines, sage old advice is to try different types of workouts. Apply the same concept to mental health. Try meditation for 30 seconds and build up, do some deep breathing exercises, find a new hobby that keeps your mind at rest, etc.
Kenneth W.
Mental health can be improved in a number of ways. The first thing I’d advise is to be open with people around you about what you’re going through. Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable. The one thing that has helped me was opening up to my wife and my boss by admitting I needed time to heal. Beforehand I thought it was a risky to be so open. “What will they think? Will I look weak? Could I lose my job”. When I finally admitted that I needed help, it was so liberating. It’s finally forced me into action. The second thing I’d advise is to seek help. I’ve just started therapy to help me get to the root cause of my mental health issues so I can see clearly identify a way forward. The third thing is to find a way to just slow down and calm the mind. We live in a crazy noisy busy world and can easily get trapped I. Our thoughts. Taking time to slow down your pace and clear your mind is vitally important. Meditation works for me. Others try yoga, Thai chi…whatever works. Finally, don’t expect immediate results. This is a journey which can take time. Stick rigidly to whatever works for you and don’t give up. You will find your way to a better place