10 Mental Health Care Hacks Worth Remembering

Sometimes we get so caught up in our daily lives, and our mental health seems to be the least priority. To keep up with the world’s hectic rhythm, we need to speed up, which means sacrificing some essential things — I’m talking about our mental health.

The concept that to live a happy and fulfilled life, we just need to pay attention to our physical health is so overrated. Mental health issues are going through the roof, especially since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.

That said, mental health must be a priority in our checklist. Fortunately, there are easy ways to add simple techniques to our daily lives. We’ve wrapped up ten mental health care hacks worth remembering.

Create a morning routine

“Always remember that where you are is a result of who you were, but where you go depends entirely on who you choose to be, from this moment on,” says Hal Erod in his book The Miracle Morning, translated into 37 languages and sold more than 2 million copies.

The morning routine is the new buzz word and even if you can’t make it to the 5 am Club, you can still figure out what works best for you, just like Hal suggests in his book. After trying so many things — from 5 activities like working out, journaling, reading, repeating positive affirmations, and meditation (which would take me more than two hours), I’ve found my sweet spot just practicing 30 minutes of Yoga and 25 minutes of meditation every morning.

...and a bedtime ritual

Creating an effective bedtime ritual could help you to get better sleep and improve your overall wellbeing. Things as simple as avoiding coffee after lunchtime, disconnecting from all of your devices at least one hour before bedtime, and setting up a proper sleep environment will boost your energy levels, thus improving your mental wellness too.

Practice mindfulness

Mindfulness is the ability to focus on the present moment and become aware of your thoughts, emotions, and feelings. In other words, it can be defined as a non-reactive state.

According to the website and magazine Mindful, “The goal of mindfulness is to wake up to the inner workings of our mental, emotional, and physical processes.” Check these tips with Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn on how to apply mindfulness to your everyday life.

Have a gratitude journal

There are so many ways to practice gratitude that goes beyond saying “thank you” when someone does you a favor and a courtesy. Grab a journal and write three things you’re grateful for. It can be anything from your home, your family, to the air you breathe in.

Fifteen minutes per day, at least once per week, already does its job. Don’t forget to enjoy the good emotions that come with it!

Wake up at the same time, every day.

I mean, even on the weekends too! A messy sleeping schedule directly impacts your productivity, energy levels, mood, and mental health also. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time, even during the weekends. Ah, and forget about the snooze button — it’s bad for your health.

Take some time for yourself

Having some alone time is crucial, whether you’re an extrovert who recharges your energy surrounded by people or an introvert. During quiet and alone time, creativity kicks in, and we’re able to think more clearly.

Meditate

Don’t be scared by the word if you haven’t tried meditation before. Meditation practice is rising and gaining more popularity. There are plenty of YouTube videos and apps such as Calm, Headspace, Wake Up, and Insight Timer that provide (both free and paid) guided meditations to attend to the market’s demand.

Exercise regularly

Thirty minutes of exercise per day can improve your sleep, mood, energy levels, and mental wellness. There’s not much secret here, just practice whatever you like. If you love running, tide up your sneakers; if it’s swimming, take your goggles from the drawer. Don’t know what you want? Try new things like signing up for a dance class or a drop-in yoga class.

Eat healthily

It sounds like a no-brainer, but we tend to forget to eat our veggies when we’re so busy. Even if you don’t have time to plan a proper diet or drink green juice, try to add more vegetables to your meals, and fruits can replace sugary desserts.

Do what you love

Take some time off and block specific times in your daily schedule to do what you love — or maybe just do nothing. Do you have only 15 minutes to do that? Fine, grab your book, and lay down on your couch. Or turn on to some music and shake your body. There’s no rule here, but just give this gift to yourself.