36 Habits to Improve Mental Health to Adopt Today

Let me introduce you to some good habits for better mental health

Mental health is so important. In this blog post, we’ll talk about good habits to improve mental health.

For me, improving mental health is connected to self-development.

Every time I work on self-development, my mental health improves. So today, I’m going to tell you about some self-development tips I use to improve my mental health. 

Self-development is nothing more than a mindset. The most important decision is to constantly improve yourself and live a more fulfilling life. And why not start right now? 

That is why, in addition to organizing the outside world, self-development entails organizing the inner world.

It will not instantly change our lives or solve all of our problems, but it will provide us with a new perspective on all of them. This applies to work, home, and relationships. 

Now I will show you how to be mentally healthy and happy by taking care of your mental wellness every day.

This post may contain affiliate links. That means that if you click on a link and purchase something I recommend, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

These are the daily habits to improve mental health

1. Keep in mind the true power of decision-making

It’s a tool that you can use at any time to change the course of your life.

When you make a new decision, you start something new—an influence, a direction, and a life purpose. When you make a new decision, you literally start to change your life.

Remember that if you’re sad and feel like you have no choice or that things are “happening to you,” you can change everything if you simply stop and make a decision.

Keep in mind that the real decision is whether you take action or not. If there are no actions, you haven’t made a decision.

2. The most important step to achieving something is a true commitment

Commitment is often much easier than decision-making, so make your choices wisely but quickly. Don’t obsess over how or if you can do it.

According to research, the most successful people make quick decisions because they’re clear about their values and what they truly want from life.

These same studies show that such people rarely, if ever, change their minds.

Those who are unhappy because they’re slow to make decisions and change their minds frequently are always stuck in back-and-forth gear. Simply choose!

Making a decision is among good mental health habits because it often helps you achieve larger goals.

One important rule I’ve established for myself is to never change a decision without first taking concrete steps to make it a reality. How will you know if you don’t try?

3. Make decisions often

The more decisions you make, the better at making them you become. Muscles, like decision-making muscles, grow stronger with use.

Right now, use your power to make a decision you’ve been putting off. You will not believe how much energy and excitement it adds to your life!

4. Learn from your decisions

There is no other option. Sometimes, no matter what you do, things just don’t work out. And instead of hitting your head against the wall when the unavoidable occurs, learn from it.

Consider the following: “What’s so great about it? What can I take away from it?” You can transform this “failure” into an incredible talent if you use it to make better decisions in the future.

Instead of focusing on short-term setbacks, learn the lesson.

It’s one of those good and healthy mental habits that will also save you time, money, and pain in the long run, as well as set you up for future success.

Check out books like ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow‘ or ‘The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck‘ to level up your learning game.

5. Stay committed to your decisions, but be flexible in your actions

If you’ve decided who you want to be as a person, don’t get stuck on how to get there. You’re looking for the bottom line.

When people decide what they want, they draw a map, but they often close themselves off from other options. Don’t be too strict. Develop your adaptability.

6. Enjoy making decisions

You must understand that any decision you make can alter the course of your life for the rest of your life.

The words you read or the page you turn could be the catalyst for everything you’ve been waiting for to fall into place. If you truly want to live a passionate life, you must adopt this attitude.

Make at least one firm decision that you have been putting off, and then follow through on it! By doing so, you build the muscle that will allow you to change your entire life.

We’re both aware that you will face difficulties in the future. But if you decide to go through the walls, you can climb over them, tear them down, build a tunnel beneath them, or find a door.

Nothing, no matter how long that wall has stood, has power over people if they’re determined to keep going until the wall comes down.

It’s one of the best habits for mental health because the human soul is truly unbeatable.

But the will to win, the will to succeed, and the will to shape and rule your life will reign supreme only when you decide what you want and believe that no challenge, problem, or obstacle can keep you from achieving it.

If you decide that your life is shaped by your own decisions rather than situations, your life will change forever, and you will have the power to control it.

7. How to achieve the life of your dreams?

Examine the dreams you’ve had. When your dreams come true, make new ones. Take time every day to reflect on and dream about your dreams.

The best time for this is right before going to bed or right when you wake up in the morning. You can also make or find a happy place in which to dream.

Imagine your ideal life as precisely as possible, then ask yourself the following questions and reflect on the answers.

Where do you live, and with whom do you live?

Consider the following: whether it’s a house, an apartment, a city, or a rural area; what country it is in; what the climate is like there; who the neighbors are; how close or far; and whether it is with family or a dear husband or wife.

Consider your future, including how, where, and with whom you want to spend the next month, year, 3, 5, 10, 20, 30, and so on. What, where, and how do you want to spend your golden years? Consider your ideal job.

Consider how and with whom you spend your spare time. Where do you want to go? What do you want to read? What sports do you want to participate in?

When you imagine your ideal life, consider how you would feel in that environment. Create in yourself that good feeling, that happiness, that comes from living the life of your dreams.

You don’t have to worry about how these dreams will come true; if you take good care of them, they will often come true sooner than you can imagine.

Renew your dreams. A life of dreams requires the creation of new dreams after the previous ones have come true.

You must update, review, renovate, and modernize your dreams in the same way that you purchase new clothes, update furniture, repair your home, and purchase new car and phone models.

Our technology is constantly updated, and we keep up with it. The same holds true for dreams.

You must modernize and update your dreams, but also review new ones on a regular basis. You must keep your “dream gallery” up to date.

You might also like: Learning to create your dream life isn't actually too hard

8. Love yourself and believe in yourself

Look at yourself; you are stunning. How lovely your heart and soul are! Every day, tell yourself in front of the mirror that you love and respect yourself exactly as you are.

Remember that if you truly love yourself, you will never cause harm to anyone else, including yourself.

This is among my favorite healthy habits to improve mental health because the best relationship you can have in your life is with yourself, because all other relationships will ring with the same harmony.

You might also like: Start a self-love journey with the help of these practical tips

9. Love your job

Change your job if it doesn’t make you happy. If you’re unable or unwilling to change your job, change your attitude toward it. There is always something good in every job; find it for yourself.

Earning a living cannot be the sole purpose of working. Life isn’t just about making a living; it’s also about having fun, so remember that and don’t waste any more precious moments.

10. Listen to your heart and trust your inner voice

Before venturing out into the outside world, look around. Those who have looked within have found the answers without exception.

Spend even 5 minutes each day meditating, being alone with yourself, and listening to what you have to say to yourself in silence.

11. Do only what you really enjoy and what makes you happy

What are the things in your life that have made you happy? What are the things you’ve always wanted to do but have been too afraid to try because of your limitations and fears?

Be aware of your limitations and fears, and face them with courage.

12. Spend more time with your loved ones

When was the last time you gave someone a hug? When was the last time you were touched by someone else?

When was the last time you did something thoughtful and creative for your family? When was the last time you incorporated small, festive, and special moments into your daily routine?

Do more of these things, and don’t let the daily routine take over your life. Spend your time with people who make you happy.

This is among the really great healthy mental health habits because you will never want to be with people who make you unhappy once you learn to be happy with yourself.

Choose those who make you happy and bring a lot of joy into your life—those who help you develop and move forward in life.

You might also like: These affirmations for friendship help you attract positive people

13. Take care of your body

Maintain your physical fitness. Yoga, Tai Chi, and Pilates are excellent for moving energy. Run, ski, or swim. Play the sport that you enjoy the most.

Go for a massage, schedule an energy-balancing and stimulating session once a month or every two months, or find a therapist who can support and help you in your spiritual development. Dance a lot and with all of your heart.

Take frequent walks in the open air and in the forest. Eat healthily and pay attention to what foods are good for your body. You can find healthy eating tips in books like ‘How Not to Die‘.

You might also like: Have the best self-care day with the help of these ideas

14. Confront your fears

All of our fears are mental patterns formed from negative past experiences in this or previous lives.

Self-defense is actually destructive because our fears prevent us from moving freely through life. You will discover yourself once you have overcome your fears.

You might also like: Use these tips to finally conquer all your fears

15. Reduce your TV viewing and Internet usage

Television and the Internet are huge time-wasters that are also, unfortunately, addictive. If you’re always pressed for time, consider how much time you spend with them.

When you say no to TV and excessive Internet use, you save a lot of time. Use the remaining time to go for a walk in the woods, for example.

16. Read books

With inspiring thoughts, you can broaden your horizons. You’ll undoubtedly discover many new and interesting things that you were previously unaware of.

The more you read, the larger your world becomes.

17. Help others

When possible, lend a helping hand. Help those who are truly in need. Do something nice for someone else and enjoy it without expecting anything in return.

One of the most common mistakes is expecting something in return for a good deed.

In fact, knowing that every good deed you do will come back to you tenfold is enough, but you never know in what form or from whom it will come.

18. Have faith in miracles

Every day is filled with small miracles. Small miracles happen to you all the time; pay attention to them.

It’s one of my favorite habits that improve mental health because, once you start looking, everywhere you look, there ARE miracles.

19. Have fun in life

Attend concerts and movies, hang out with friends, eat out, and travel.

Although it can be costly, focus on the happiness it brings to your life rather than the lack of money. Enjoy the small things in life, such as birdsong, the sound of the sea, and the sun.

Have fun with everything! If you don’t have anyone to come with you, go it alone! Don’t wait for someone else to have fun.

Even when you’re alone, life is full of joy and miracles. The right people will come at the right time.

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20. Laugh a lot and smile at everyone and everything

Laughing and smiling raise the body’s level of happiness hormones, and the higher it is, the happier you can be all the time.

Think positive thoughts. Recognize that all of your thoughts create your reality. Make an effort to keep your thoughts loving, beautiful, positive, and good at all times.

21. Always be honest with yourself and others

If you believe that not saying what you really mean will protect the other person from being hurt, you’re mistaken. Being dishonest hurts a lot more.

Always live in your truth; stop lying and hiding, and you’ll soon notice how all the tension inside you gradually dissipates.

Being honest with ourselves is often the most difficult thing for us, but you can start your journey with ‘Radical Honesty‘.

It feels great to deceive yourself because no one will notice.

But, in fact, eventually, you will. Stop telling yourself that life will be easier one day or that everything will change when your children grow up.

There will be no better tomorrow, so make the most of the present moment.

The question is whether you will seize this opportunity or continue to convince yourself that your life is fine. It’s so easy to say, “I’m fine, I’m fine.” Is that really so?

Lay out your life in front of you. Step out of your life and out of yourself. Take a look at your life right now.

Is everything you do from morning to night making you happy? Do these things make you happy? Do you live for yourself or for the sake of others? 

22. Be grateful for everything you already have in your life

Be thankful for your family and friends. Be thankful for all of the opportunities that life has provided you. Be thankful for everything you have in your life.

Be grateful for your good health and happiness. Be thankful that you’re alive and breathing. Be grateful for every moment.

There’s always something to be thankful for in life, but many people take everything for granted.

Gratitude is very important. It’s one of those small habits to improve mental health because it sends a signal to the universe that you’re happy, which allows the universe to send you even more things to be grateful for.

Be grateful for a wonderful day, for the special people in your life, for the delicious food, for your healthy and beautiful body, and for the lovely words and thoughts that come your way.

The more grateful you are, the more you notice things to be grateful for.

23. Let go of anything you can’t change

Keep people and things that generate negative energy away from you. Get rid of them, and you’ll notice how much easier life will be for you.

Never, ever think about the people who make you unhappy.

24. Try to worry less

Worrying is a poison that only harms you; no one else benefits from it. Furthermore, you create a destructive reality for yourself by constantly worrying.

Ask yourself, “How would I rather feel than worry?”

Recognize how worrying is destroying your life. See how much it will ultimately cost you. Imagine your joy when you finally get rid of it and are free!

Break the previous emotional pattern. Every time you worry, break the pattern with some silly behavior to distract yourself. Do a few pushups or belt out a song at the top of your lungs.

Develop a more empowering alternative to worrying using the techniques from ‘The Worry Cure’ by Robert L. Leahy.

Instead of worrying, what could you do? Make a strategy and write down what you can do right now. Perhaps you could go for a run and come up with new solutions while running.

Create a new behavior pattern and imagine it vividly and emotionally until the new attitude, behavior, or emotional pattern becomes automatic.

Reinforce this by visualizing yourself succeeding on a regular basis.

Many people find that imagining positive outcomes makes them feel better. Imagine this again and again with great emotional intensity until the pattern is established.

Put it to the test and see if it works. Think about a situation that used to worry you, and you’ll notice that it no longer does.

25. Create and dream

Draw, write, and create with your hands and heart.

Doing it yourself allows you to express your emotions while also creating more positive emotions, which are caused by the joy of doing something for yourself.

Write down your dreams in the most grandiose way you can think of, without considering the possibility that they are unrealistic.

Our quest for happiness is found in our dreams. Don’t be afraid to dream. You’re entitled to everything you desire.

26. Start with small things

The most important thing is that you begin at all. If you put one drop of water in a glass every day, it will eventually fill to the brim with water.

However, if you don’t even start filling it, it will remain empty.

“Every master was once a beginner,” Robin Sharma once said. Patience and perseverance are essential qualities that will only help you achieve big goals in life.

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27. Thoughts are very important. What you think is what you get

Your current life reflects the caliber of your previous thoughts. If you want to change the future, you must first change your thoughts.

To live well with the help of these healthy habits for mental health, fill your mind with the right thoughts, which are positive, hopeful, and loving.

Right thinking helps you get everything you want, while wrong thinking (negative, self-destructive, and so on) only harms and destroys you. You change your life when you change your mind.

28. Learn to forgive

Having angry thoughts about someone else is like throwing a piece of coal at them, but you could burn yourself. If you’ve been wronged, muster the courage to forgive sincerely and completely.

Release your resentment and anger toward others, and forgive yourself for harboring this resentment within yourself.

You might also like: These forgiveness journal prompts will help you heal

29. Your actions speak louder than words

You can say a thousand words about what you want to do someday, but it will never happen unless you take action.

You can read dozens of self-help books, but none of them will help you unless you apply the advice and lessons they contain.

Always put the advice you’ve received into action. Take some action. Don’t wait for success to come to you; it will never come to you unless you work for it.

30. Learn to understand other people

Try to understand other people’s perspectives. Before passing judgment on another person, consider their life as if it were your own.

Rather than trying to correct them, listen to the other person.

If you want to learn more about passing judgment on another person, I highly suggest you read ‘Judgment Detox‘ by Gabrielle Bernstein. It’s a guide to releasing judgment and embracing empathy.

31. Exceed yourself

Take charge of your own life. When you take control of your thoughts and actions, you limit the bad habits for mental health that you have developed.

I’m going to tell you why it’s among these habits for good mental health. Your thoughts frequently create problems where none previously existed.

If you reduce such thoughts, your life will be filled with fewer and fewer problems and unbearable challenges. Of course, you may think, “I can’t control my thoughts; they come when they want.”

Yes, you can’t stop a bird from flying over your head, but you can prevent it from nesting in your head.

32. Learn to live in harmony

Don’t look for anything outside. A new car, job, or marriage can provide temporary satisfaction, but there will always be the feeling that something is missing.

Turn to your heart and soul to find peace, but within yourself, you will always find something new to offer your soul through self-improvement.

Only from within can you find true harmony with your soul.

33. Believe in what you already know

Your knowledge, principles, and values are the fundamental components of your vital needs. Examine and observe them to see if anything needs to be changed.

Concentrate on who you want to be, and you’ll be able to apply what you already know to improve your life.

People who can stand up for their beliefs are needed in the world because they can be trusted.

If you’re interested in developing a growth mindset, I highly suggest you borrow this book: ‘Mindset: The New Psychology of Success’ by Carol S. Dweck. It’s a life-changer!

34. Ask yourself questions

What we focus on determines our life experience.

The questions below are meant to help you feel more happiness, excitement, pride, gratitude, joy, a sense of contribution, and love every day of your life.

Keep in mind that quality questions lead to a quality life.

Give two to three answers to each of these questions, focusing entirely on the question.

If you’re having trouble coming up with an answer, simply add the word “could.” “What could I be happy about in my life right now?” for example.

Here are some morning power questions for you:

1. What makes me happy right now? What brings me joy? How does it make me feel when I think about it?
2. What am I currently excited about? What piques my interest? How do I feel now that I’ve thought about it?
3. What am I currently proud of in my life? What makes me happy? How do I feel now that I’ve thought about it?
4. What am I grateful for right now? What makes me happy? How do I feel now that I’ve thought about it?
5. What am I currently enjoying the most in my life? What makes me happy? How do I feel now that I’ve thought about it?
6. What am I currently investing in? What motivates me to do this? How do I feel now that I’ve thought about it?
7. What am I currently working on? What am I committing to? How do I feel now that I’ve thought about it?

Here are some evening power questions for you:

1. What did I give myself today? In what ways have I benefited others today?
2. What did I discover today?
3. How has today improved my life, or how can I use today as a future investment?

Make asking these questions a daily ritual if you truly want to change your life.

As you ask these questions repeatedly, you’ll gain consistent access to your most empowering emotional states and start to lay the groundwork for highways to happiness, excitement, pride, gratitude, joy, commitment, and love.

Soon, you will notice that when you wake up, these questions will come to you automatically, as a habit. If you have practiced asking these questions, you will be able to enrich your life.

35. Start loving life again

Stay in the present moment, right here, right now. You can enjoy the moment you are in right now, whether you are at work, exercising, riding the bus, or doing something else. It’s not difficult.

Make your life a wonderful experience that you’ll never forget. Something you’d want to experience over and over.

Take a deep breath and observe how each subsequent breath becomes deeper and more meaningful. Your life will gain content and a new dimension.

You might also like: Learn all about how to reset your life this year

36. Be physically active

One aspect of self-development is increasing productivity, which requires energy, which you don’t have unless you exercise regularly.

If you haven’t participated in sports yet, aim to walk 10,000 steps per day, for example. You can track your daily steps with a fitness tracker like the ‘Fitbit Charge 4‘.

FAQ: Why is it important to improve mental health?

It promotes emotional well-being

Good mental health helps you manage your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. This allows you to maintain positive relationships and cope with life’s challenges.

It improves resilience

Taking care of your mental health can help you recover from stress, adversity, and setbacks.

It improves physical health

Mental and physical health are undoubtedly linked. Mental health conditions can have an impact on your physical health, and vice versa.

It improves your quality of life

Good mental health can make you feel happier, more confident, and more fulfilled.

It promotes productivity

Good mental health can improve your ability to focus, concentrate, and be productive. This can lead to greater success and satisfaction in both your personal and professional lives.

Will you try any of these habits to improve mental health?

That’s it for this blog. How to improve your mental health? What are the best ways to improve mental health? What are your favorite fun activities to improve mental health? Tell me in the comments. I’d love to hear your thoughts!