31 Tips to Boost Your Mental Health

  1. Track gratitude and achievement with a journal. Include 3 things you were grateful for and 3 things you were able to accomplish each day.
    Journal
    Try the free apps – Happier or Attitudes of Gratitude Journal or make your own journal using one of these tutorials.
  2. Start your day with a cup of co­ffee. Coff­ee consumption is linked to lower rates of depression. If you can’t drink coff­ee because of the caff­eine, try another good-for-you drink like green tea.
    smiley coffee
  3. Set up a getaway. It could be camping with friends or a trip to the tropics. The act of planning a vacation and having something to look forward to can boost your overall happiness for up to 8 weeks!
    sunset
  4. Work your strengths. Do something you’re good at to build self-confidence, then tackle a tougher task.
    baby meme
  5. Keep it cool for a good night’s sleep. The optimal temperature for sleep is between 60˚ and 67˚ Fahrenheit.
    bed
  6. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step. -Martin Luther King Jr.
    steps
    Think of something in your life you want to improve, and figure out what you can do to take a step in the right direction.
  7. Experiment with a new recipe, write a poem, paint or try a Pinterest project. Creative expression and overall well-being are linked.
    art supplies
  8. Show some love to someone in your life. Close, quality relationships are key for a happy, healthy life.
    laughing couple
  9. Boost brainpower by treating yourself to a couple pieces of dark chocolate every few days.  The flavanoids, caffeine, and theobromine in chocolate are thought to work together to improve alertness and mental skills.
    chocolate heart gif
    Source: http://www.animated-gifs.eu
  10. There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you.  -Maya Angelou
    maya angelou quote
    If you have personal experience with mental illness or recovery, share on Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr with #mentalillnessfeelslike. Check out what other people are saying at www.mentalhealthamerica.net/feelslike
  11. Sometimes, we don’t need to add new activities to get more pleasure. We just need to soak up the joy in the ones we’ve already got. Trying to be optimistic doesn’t mean ignoring the uglier sides of life. It just means focusing on the positive as much as possible.

    Source: YouTube User Yosemitebear62

  12. Feeling anxious?  Take a trip down memory lane and do some coloring for about 20 minutes to help you clear your mind. Pick a design that’s geometric and a little complicated for the best effect.
    color
    Check out hundreds of free printable coloring pages here.
  13. Take time to laugh. Hang out with a funny friend, watch a comedy or check out cute videos online. Laughter helps reduce anxiety.

    Source: YouTube User BruBearBaby

  14. Go off the grid. Leave your smart phone at home for a day and disconnect from constant emails, alerts, and other interruptions. Spend time doing something fun with someone face-to-face.
    cell phones
  15. Dance around while you do your housework. Not only will you get chores done, but dancing reduces levels of cortisol (the stress hormone), and increases endorphins (the body’s “feel-good” chemicals).
  16. Go ahead and yawn. Studies suggest that yawning helps cool the brain and improves alertness and mental efficiency.
  17. Relax in a warm bath once a week. Try adding Epsom salts to soothe aches and pains and help boost magnesium levels, which can be depleted by stress.
  18. Has something been bothering you? Let it all out…on paper. Writing about upsetting experiences can reduce symptoms of depression.
    journal
  19. Spend some time with a furry friend. Time with animals lowers the stress hormone – cortisol, and boosts oxytocin – which stimulates feelings of happiness. If you don’t have a pet, hang out with a friend who does or volunteer at a shelter.
    dog
  20. “What lies before us and what lies behind us are small matters compared to what lies within us. And when you bring what is within out into the world, miracles happen.”
    – Henry David Thoreau
    stretch
    Practice mindfulness by staying “in the present.”  Try these tips.
  21. Be a tourist in your own town. Often times people only explore attractions on trips, but you may be surprised what cool things are in your own backyard.
    tourist
  22. Try prepping your lunches or picking out your clothes for the work week. You’ll save some time in the mornings and have a sense of control about the week ahead.
    meal prep
    Source: Flickr User taz+ belly
  23. Work some omega-3 fatty acids into your diet–they are linked to decreased rates of depression and schizophrenia among their many benefits. Fish oil supplements work, but eating your omega-3s in foods like wild salmon, flaxseeds or walnuts also helps build healthy gut bacteria.
    fish
  24. Practice forgiveness – even if it’s just forgiving that person who cut you off during your commute. People who forgive have better mental health and report being more satisfied with their lives.
    traffic jam
  25. “What appear to be calamities are often the sources of fortune.” – Disraeli
    Try to find the silver lining in something kind of cruddy that happened recently.
    sky
  26. Feeling stressed? Smile. It may not be the easiest thing to do, but smiling can help to lower your heart rate and calm you down.

    Source: Bukybuh.Tumblr.com

  27. Send a thank you note – not for a material item, but to let someone know why you appreciate them. Written expressions of gratitude are linked to increased happiness.
    golden girls
    Buy this one from the Seas and Peas shop on Etsy.com
  28. Do something with friends and family – have a cookout, go to a park, or play a game. People are 12 times more likely to feel happy on days that they spend 6-7 hours with friends and family.
    bubble
  29. Take 30 minutes to go for a walk in nature – it could be a stroll through a park, or a hike in the woods. Research shows that being in nature can increase energy levels, reduce depression and boost well-being.
    walk
  30. Do your best to enjoy 15 minutes of sunshine, and apply sunscreen. Sunlight synthesizes Vitamin D, which experts believe is a mood elevator.
    happy lady
  31. “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” -Albert Einstein
    Try something outside of your comfort zone to make room for adventure and excitement in your life.
    balloons
    http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/31-tips-boost-your-mental-health

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