What small things have you done to improve your mental health?

[C1239]

Things seem quite stressful in general for lots of people at the moment. Just wondering what small things people have done to try and improve their mental health and if it’s made an improvement for you?

I work 4 days not 5 now
Came off Facebook
Allocate time for myself
Plan one family focussed activity every week
I sell things we don't need and try to buy Pre-loved new things if possible to save wastage
I've had a housekeeping exercise and anyone who wasn't a good friend to me I've not engaged with

And I've been massively decluttering my house 🏡

Quality time with good friends and house rabbit (pets are an amazing tonic), walks & rides out in nature, whole food diet (largely), meditation & yoga, not obsessing about the News or social media.

Bookmarking this!

Started travelling. Discovering new places again. It doesn’t have to be too far, just somewhere different.

Walk outside every day. Only s couple of ten minute bursts but I feel so much better for it. Plus vitamin D bonus.

wear make up every day. I know that’s controversial on mn but it gives me a boost.

...shh, nobody break it to her.

Gin, and avoiding William and Kate empathising on TV.

I'm on Day 3 of "finishing the day better than it started"

Which includes

1. any self care (hair washing, hair dye, nails done, a quick fake tan)
2. any fitness (walk, run, swim)
3. any house chores (sorting, tidying, laundry)
4. any gardening (mowing)
5. family admin (paying bill, doing the weekly shop, talking to grandparents!)

I have a 6) applying for better job and getting interview etc

I'm only on Day 3 and it's helping me lots! Xx

So today is better than it started because I mowed the grass, caught up on laundry and did my nails. 😁

I left my toxic job. Concentrated on having good times. I don't worry about the future (or anything else for that matter )

Divorced.

And I've also started walking a guaranteed 3500 step walk every lunch time.

Which helps me finish at about 10,500 daily.

I noticed I'm tearful and anxious if I did fewer steps. I have MS and keeping my steps up is important to my body and mind. Xx

Plan in rest/relaxation time and don't let it get swallowed up with something else.

Exercise outside preferably in nature(i.e. walking in the woods)

Avoid alcohol

Sleep at regular times

Daydream

Omg sorry for the typos. I have a naughty new phone and it's predictive text is so unintuitive and stupid!

Not worry about typos

Agree with exercise. Also a connection however small or virtual with at least one friend or relative each day, so it’s not just work colleagues and/or whoever you live with, that you get your social life from. Really good coffee when I can, also helps me.

Tiny social interactions on a daily basis can be life changing. That's why I think COVID destroyed so many people's mental health 😥

Not really caring what others think of me. Getting up and being productive even if I don't feel like it. It can be difficult some days but I never regret being productive and I love the feeling at the end of the day after being productive. As if I've earned sitting on my arse at night and relaxing. When I lay on the sofa all day I feel guilty and don't enjoy it but some days it's all I can manage. Those days are getting less and less and it's been good for my MH.

I stopped watching the news about a year ago and now only read articles from online newspapers once per week. Far too much hysteria caused with daily news coverage. It was making me very anxious.

I video call my mom every day. Living so far away is hard, and our daily chats makes me feel less homesick.

I rewatch "comfort" shows on repeat. Gilmore Girls with a cup of tea or coffee just makes the day so much more calm.

For me it's the basics. Eat nutritious and balanced meals, cut down on alcohol, get as much sleep as I can, exercise regularly, ensure I have down/quiet time, make time for friends and family. I also do little treat things that make me happy - go for a coffee, go for a walk, listen to an interesting podcast, buy some nice hot chocolate. I used to have a really stressful job and quite poor mental health so these things helped me to keep my head above water.

This thread is brilliant thank you for starting it. I've been trying to work on my mental health as I suffer with OCD and it's always a bit of a tightrope to keep it in check.

I've always been really hard on myself, it became apparent when some close friends told me so.

Since I lowered my impossible standards I've been much more relaxed. I'm also trying very hard to cut right back on booze.

Not much of a deal but I'm getting used to not looking perfect or even half decent on days when I don't need to and I'm much more comfortable with things.

I've started listening to a hypnotherapy meditation for anxiety. It's early days, but I think it's helping me.

I suppose quite big things really but other than meds and psychotherapy the things that have made the most difference are committing not to work and to be single for as many years as possible.

Stopped doom scrolling on the likes of Twitter.

Not just for my mental health, also physical health (which is obviously linked)...but I have been trying to make small changes to my life, a bit at a time, for a couple of years.

• Leave mobile phone in other room in evening, and overnight.
• Walk more
• Exercise class on a regular basis (trying to do weekly)
• Finding ways to be involved in a cause I have an interest in via local activism group
• Seeking out different ways to meet new people
• Bought a mindfulness journal, which I try to use regularly
• Joining trampolining class
• Add in other things I like doing - gardening, painting
• Switch direction in my job to an area I have more interest in (and confidence at)

Has it helped - I'm not sure. In some ways yes I think so.