16 little life hacks that will do more for your mental health than a year with any therapist
Let’s jump straight into it…
1. Every morning, write out your challenges and opportunities.
Journal through your solutions to get those thoughts out of your head and onto paper.
2. Develop the habit of being curious about your emotions instead of being carried away with them.
Creating this distance will nurture your emotional control.
3. Walk every single day for at least 30 minutes.
4. Focus less on mental health unless you have severe problems and more on creating ‘success’ in your life in whatever form ‘success’ is for you.
5. Make a commitment to letting go of the need to worry.
Turning away from worry to focus on the real world is a practice that will change your life.
6. Refuse to buy into the idea that you have a ‘problem.’
Most forms of ‘healing’ reinforce the idea that you have a ‘problem.’
Focus less on you and more on the people around you.
7. Lift weights regularly.
The physical and cognitive benefits are documented and substantial. Do not physically weaken.
8. Forgive yourself.
Many of us hold a grudge against who we were.
Find a way to understand that what you did was for a good reason at the time.
You’re human. Forgive.
9. Be aware of energy drains.
Enforce firm boundaries to ensure your energy levels aren’t ‘stolen’ by other people, bad news, bad food and cheap sources of dopamine.
10. Avoid insulin-spiking food like bread, refined sugar and pastries.
This ensures your mood remains stable, and you’re less likely to get into bad thinking habits due to physical imbalance.
11. Be yourself.
Don’t allow the need for approval from others make you weird and uptight.
Get into the habit of showing us who you are — warts and all.
12. Spend five minutes listing out some things you’re grateful for.
Reminding yourself of what you have will lift you, but it also makes you more receptive to receiving more positive things.
13. Stay lean and avoid being fat.
This may require some active diet shifts.
Wheat consumption is now known to be one of the most significant contributors to weight gain.
14. If you’re a man, check your testosterone levels.
Do whatever you can to raise these as high as possible.
This is directly correlated to your mood, energy and mental health.
15. Never sit still for more than 45 minutes.
This is unless you’re sleeping (in which case, you need your 8 hours or so for optimal mental health).
Take regular stretching and movement breaks.
16. Develop a closer relationship with breathing.
We can hold our breath when fearful, which reinforces mental ill-health.
Breathe properly, through the nose, and take 3 slow, long breaths when you get emotional.
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