For the longest time, looking for ways to improve mental health was not on my radar.
Despite struggling to get a hold of my emotions and having outbursts out of the blue, I never paused to reflect on the state of my mind.
It was a mistake that cost me later on. But you know what they say about humans – they don’t usually learn unless they fall.
Something similar happened to me.
During a one-year break from college, I was forced to admit that my mental health deserves the topmost position on my priority list.
But dear reader, I don’t want you to feel lost the way I did.
Just in case you have any doubts, I want you to hear from me that your mental health matters.
You deserve to be content and you deserve all the happiness this world has to offer.
And more than anything, you deserve a mental space that gives you the freedom to be yourself. It doesn’t have to be suffocating anymore.
I know you’ve already been through some much in your life. It’s okay to step back, sit down, and take notes from someone else for a change.
You can make a choice to turn your life around right this second. And I am here to convince you to make this choice. 🙂
How Can You Improve Your Mental Health
A while back, I wrote a post discussing 10 everyday habits to improve mental health.
If you’re looking for some super simple tips to change your mental health in a short time, that’s the post you want to read.
But if you’re ready to take some drastic steps to flip your mental health upside down (for the better), then you’re already in the right place.
Before reading further, please pin this post to share the love.
I am about to reveal the 5 major changes I made in my life to improve my mental health.
Consider these to be golden rules that can help you attain the ultimate state of mental wellness.
If you’re ready to quit your old toxic habits and embrace happiness, read on.
5 Things I Did To Improve My Mental Health
1. Ditch Negativity For Positive Thoughts
Negative thinking is one of the most irrelevant things in this world.
It has literally zero value, causes overthinking, and brings with it a truckload of stress.
Take it from someone who’s successfully ditched negativity – you’re better off without it.
A negative brain thinks something like – “I can’t, because it’s too hard.” Whereas a chill and positive brain says, “It’s achievable if I want.”
All your thoughts of self-sabotage, misery, and pity parties can be avoided by quitting negativity and adopting a positive way of life.
Being positive isn’t about forcing yourself to smile when you’re hurting.
It’s about making the best of every situation, which is a trademark habit of happy people.
When you think positively, you attract positive energy. It offers you the courage to sail through difficult times and makes you mentally strong.
Now, your brain might be wired to believe differently. It finds comfort in negative thoughts because they offer an easier way out.
Positivity demands self-awareness and an ability to look at the bigger picture, both of which are skills you possess in abundance.
The question is – are you willing to step out of your comfort zone and see things from a brighter perspective?
I’ll answer that for you – “Yes, I am ready to discard negativity and adopt positive thinking.”
Just to solidify your vow, go ahead and speak that out loud.
And now to manifest this thought, here is a guide you need to bookmark for later: 10 Mindful Habits To Be A More Positive Person
2. Stop Caring What Others Think
As humans, we are linked to each other in beautiful ways.
We share our thoughts with each other, find a sense of belonging among like-minded people, and exchange comfort to not feel lonely in this vast world.
But this interdependency comes to bite us back when we start putting too much value into others’ opinions of us.
Do you think you care too much about your appearance in public, make important life decisions to please others, or depend on others for validation?
If your answer to even one of those scenarios is yes, this advice is for you.
Instead of valuing external thoughts, you need to turn your energy inward. Focus on your choices, your tastes, and your wishes.
Work on fulfilling your heart’s desires, because it knows what’s best for you better than anyone else.
Share your joy with your loved ones; you need support and encouragement to thrive in life. But don’t depend on them for fulfillment.
Be the cause of someone’s happiness, but never do things to please them.
Your true friends would never want you to pretend anyway. And those who expect you to be different, are the people you need to stop caring about.
3. Embrace Self-Love And Self-Kindness
From the moment I started this blog, I knew I’d be writing about self-love a lot. It’s a habit that’s completely upturned my view on life.
Embracing self-love erased half my mental health problems.
It’s been a magical solution to my negative self-talk, has freed me from superficial demands regarding my body, and made it easier to accept myself in every form.
When you fail to love yourself unconditionally, your brain slips into a negative zone.
It punishes you by finding faults in your life, makes it hard for you to attract good people, and doesn’t let you feel good about your health.
And honestly, I don’t blame your brain here. If someone close to me refused to love me, I’d probably act the same.
Bookmark For Later: How To Be Kind To Yourself (15 Simple Ways)
Understand that deep inside you, there is a child that needs to be taken care of.
It deserves your attention, care, love, and every compliment you can conjure up and mean by heart.
You can start by using self-love affirmations on a daily basis; they really help.
Begin your mornings by writing a short self-love note. Smile at the mirror often and wear clothes that make you feel good.
The more you delve into self-love, the better you’ll understand it. After that, loving yourself will be the easiest thing ever.
For better understanding, don’t forget to read: 10 Self-Love Habits Every Woman Needs For A Strong Life
4. Start Doing Things That Make You Happy
I spent a lot of time doing things that weren’t in alignment with my being.
I was heading in a career direction that made me unhappy, was learning skills that did not excite me, and engaging with people who didn’t have my best interest at heart.
My sole reason for carrying on was that I did these things well. And that’s the mistake most of us make.
Just because you’re good at something, doesn’t mean it makes you happy.
Nothing in this world is inaccessible to you. As a human, you’re blessed with a brilliant mind capable of performing every task.
But the question is – are you happy with how you spend your time?
One thing you must understand is that your interests matter.
You don’t have to (and shouldn’t) pressurize yourself into loving something, because that’s not how it works.
Related Post: How To Be A Happier Person – 8 Ways To Enjoy Life To The Fullest
It took me years to realize that I don’t need to spend energy in places that I don’t connect to.
From quitting my college music society to making a career change, I flushed out everything from my life that didn’t make me happy.
As a result, I found my mental health flourishing.
So, work hard and smart to get a job that makes you happy.
Have a routine that satisfies you, include hobbies in your daily checklist, and don’t be afraid to go after your dream life.
Another piece of advice that might help you make this transition with ease is to not take your life too seriously.
You might be making the act of ‘switching’ more complicated than it has to be.
Stick to your personal definition of joy, and happiness will come to you on its own.
5. Complain Less, Do More
There’s a thin line between venting and complaining, but it makes all the difference to your mental state.
Venting provides you with a healthy outlet for your emotions and is recommended to declutter your mind.
On the other hand, complaining adds to your frustrations. It makes you problem-oriented instead of focusing on the solution.
When you complain, your brain gets the idea that your situations are unresolvable, and they very well might be,
But getting frustrated over them won’t help you anyway.
Bookmark now: 121 Positive Affirmations For Mental Strength To Make You Fearless
For me, it was hard to admit at first that I complained too much.
There were people around me who were doing the same, so I thought it was fine for me to carry on.
But slowly, I began to understand the cycle of complaining that I was stuck under and decided to quit it for good.
- The education system is unreasonable.
- This subject is too hard.
- I feel low all the time.
These were valid concerns, but constantly thinking and talking about them was not fruitful.
I needed actions to cure my sadness, get rid of my overthinking, and stop complaining about things I couldn’t control.
I was unhappy about the education system, but not passionate enough to try to change it.
So, I decided to minimize its weight and build a life independent of it (a goal I’ve successfully ticked off.)
The subject that I found too hard was actually out of my interest area, so I stopped holding a personal grudge against it.
And since I was troubled by my low mood, I threw myself into acts of wellness, started seeing a therapist, and picked up journaling after 5 years of a writing break.
In short, I stopped complaining and started doing, a change that brought me mental stability, peace, and wholeness.
Improving My Mental Health Was The Best Thing I Ever Did
These 5 steps helped me let go of the toxicities that I’d grown up believing to be my reality.
I highly recommend them to anyone who’s struggling to get a hold of their thoughts and is looking for life-changing solutions.
To sum things up for you:
- Ditch negativity for positive thoughts
- Stop caring what others think
- Embrace self-love and self-kindness
- Start doing things that make you happy
- Complain less, do more
It might take time to make adopt these mindset changes, but the result will be worth every conscious effort on your part.
Got a question or suggestion for me? Write to me in the comment box, and I’ll get back to you ASAP.
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