Five Ways to Act on Your Mental Health Right Now

Your mental wellness can’t wait; make it a priority right now

Photo by Fabian Møller on Unsplash

Good mental health is a state of well-being in which you can cope with the stresses of life, realise your abilities, learn and work well, and contribute to your community (World Health Organization, 2022). Mental wellness also means emotional, psychological, and social health. To achieve this, you must constantly work on your mental health which means taking action.

That’s the theme for this year’s mental health awareness month. To turn awareness into action.

You can do several things to work on your mental health. First, you can be kind to yourself by thinking good thoughts about yourself. Secondly, you can seek social support by having people who will be there for you. These people could be your family, close friends or a mental health community.

Then, you can practice self-care by making time to do the things you enjoy like reading a book, journaling or having a fun hobby. You can also incorporate exercise into your day by walking, running, or simply stretching because physical activity is a great way to boost your mood.

Lastly, you can seek mental health support by speaking to a mental health professional like a therapist, either in-person or online to work through and manage your symptoms and conditions.

1. Be Kind to Yourself

One of the most significant things I’ve learned in my mental health journey is that I had to work on my thoughts and the negative self-talk. Sometimes, we don’t always realise we are doing this until it becomes a bad habit.

Be kind to yourself by speaking words of life and hope onto your path. To know that every action you take towards working on yourself matters. To know that you are worthy of the things you want in life.

I’m kind to myself by practicing positive affirmations to remind myself of good things about me.

Some of my favourite affirmations are from Dr Anita Phillips’s sermon on the Decision Tree and I’d like to share some with you.

• I am worthy
• I did the best I could and I can learn better
• I have what I need
• I can handle this and I have personal power
• I can have the desires of my heart

2. Seek Mental Health Services

Another way to take action towards your mental health is by seeking mental health services. Going to therapy helps me better understand myself and manage life’s everyday challenges.

Take action for your mental health by booking an appointment with a therapist in your area. You can also find a therapist online.

In addition, you can find a mental health community. That way, you are amongst those with similar challenges and who you can work through improving your mental health together.

3. Practice Self-Care

Self-care is a great way to work on your mental health because it involves making the time to do things that make you happy. You can start by creating a list of the simple things that you enjoy doing. Then, consider incorporating more of the things you enjoy doing into your days.

Self-care could involve reading more or journaling to reflect on your days. It could also be time spent in nature, spa days or trips to explore someplace new.

Self-care can also be a form of spiritual practice like praying and connecting with God.

4. Incorporate Exercise into Your Day

Another way to improve your mental health is to incorporate more exercise into your day. Exercise is a great way to work on your mental health because keeping your body physically active boosts your mood. You can walk or run for your mental health.

You can also do simple things like stretching and having a form of meditation. I’ve noticed that the mornings I spend just 10 minutes stretching and meditating is important as it improves my mood.

Find the form of exercise that works for you as it doesn’t have to be too rigorous but incorporating some form of exercise is needed for your mental health.

5. Have a Form of Support System

In addition to incorporating more exercise into your day, you should have a support system. A support system is needed for your mental health because you need people who will be there to encourage you. You need people who can lend a listening ear. You need people with whom you can have fun with.

Your support system can be your family or friends. Your support system can be a mental health community. Your support system can also be the community you create based on the things you enjoy doing and are passionate about.

Final Thoughts

Good mental health entails emotional, psychological and social health. It cannot be done in one day but must be worked on everyday.

To improve your mental health, take action. Start by being kind to yourself and speaking words of life and hope unto your journey. Then, seek mental health support by talking to a therapist either in person or online to learn how to work through the issues you face.

Also, practice self-care by doing what you enjoy and what makes you genuinely happy. Then, make the time to get physically active. Your body and mind will thank you for your time stretching, walking or running.

Lastly, surround yourself with people with whom you can enjoy life with. Be around those who will listen to you and encourage you. Be around those you can laugh with and have a good time with. Be around those who make life easy.

Your mental health matters and you should start taking action towards working on your mental health right now.