Mental health is one of the most important things in our everyday lives. Although we may not realize it, our lives revolve around our mental health. If we are in a good mood or a bad mood, if we are excited, sad, or anxious–all of our emotions play a major role in our day. Even if you believe that your mental health is “good” it can always be better. It is extremely important to focus on your mental health and here are some easy ways to improve it. 

To start, good mental health is not just your mood on a certain day. It influences many behavioral aspects in your life. Those that are mentally healthy usually have:

• A sense of contentment in life 

• Eagerness to live, laugh, and have fun

• The ability to deal with stress and adversity 

• Flexibility to change and learning new things

• Balance between work, school, relationships, activities, etc. 

• Self confidence 

Now, just because you may not have all these things does not mean that you do not have good mental health. People go through bad times and struggles but that does not make you mentally unstable. We are human. In order to build and improve mental health or help yourself through a tough time, here are some things you should do:

• Acknowledge the issue, express what you are feeling, and seek help if needed 

• Find a friend or trusted person to talk to 

• Get some exercise and spend time outside 

• Take time away from phones, computers, and TVs

• Do something that makes you happy: Listening to a favorite song, eating your favorite meal, or calling a good friend

• Go out of your way to make others happy: Say hello to someone on the street, hold the door for the person behind you, compliment someone

• Start to appreciate the little things in life: the weather, the fact that you woke up today, the full day of opportunities ahead of you, that butterfly that flew past you outside

• Take time for yourself: meditate, relax, journal, catch up on sleep 

• Eat healthful foods 

• Get out of your comfort zone: try new things, make some new friends, get involved in something you wouldn’t see yourself doing, volunteer, work to find a purpose/passion or something you love 

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