Helps & Tips
Want to find support through self-care strategies, coping techniques, and professional resources? Here are things that you can do.
Get Enough Sleep
Sleep helps your brain function properly and not getting enough sleep or poor-quality sleep has many potential consequences. In addition to fatigue, decreased energy, and irritability, it can also contribute to problems with focusing and making decisions. Lack of sleep is linked to health concerns, such as heart disease and diabetes, and to worsening mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.
Eat Well & Stay Hydrated
Eating well and staying hydrated are essential for good mental health because your brain needs proper fuel to function at its best. Nutritious foods support mood regulation, focus, and energy levels, while dehydration can lead to fatigue, irritability, and difficulty concentrating. By nourishing your body, you're also caring for your mind—helping you feel more balanced, calm, and mentally resilient.
Exercise Regularly
Exercise causes your brain to release 'feel good' chemicals like endorphins and serotonin that help improve your mood. It also improves your fitness, which can help lift your mood. Doing physical activity can also distract you from negative thought patterns.
Practice Mindfulness & Deep Breathing
Mindfulness is a type of meditation in which you focus on being intensely aware of what you're sensing and feeling in the moment, without interpretation or judgment. Practicing mindfulness involves breathing methods, guided imagery, and other practices to relax the body and mind and help reduce stress.
Set Boundaries & Manage Screen Time
Setting boundaries and managing screen time is essential for your mental health because it helps you create space to rest, recharge, and stay grounded in the present. Constant exposure to screens and social media can lead to stress, comparison, and burnout—especially when you don't give yourself time to disconnect. By setting limits, you're protecting your peace, improving focus, and making room for real-life connections and self-care activities that truly nourish your well-being.
Engage in Hobbies & Creative Activities
Research shows that when you take time to do activities that make you happy, it helps improve mental health. Giving quality time to activities that you enjoy also helps your performance in your professional life. It improves your creative problem-solving abilities and helps you build better relationships with your coworkers and makes you more empathetic.
Use Journaling & Gratitude Practices
Gratitude journaling is a simple yet profound practice that can lead to improved mental health and greater overall happiness. By intentionally acknowledging the positive aspects of your life, you can foster a mindset of gratitude that can transform your outlook on life and help you better navigate the challenges that come your way. Start today, and you'll be amazed at the positive impact this daily practice can have on your well-being.
Connect with Supportive People
Having a few people you trust and can turn to can help you manage everyday challenges, make difficult decisions, or even during a crisis situation. It can also combat social isolation and loneliness, both of which can put you at higher risk for physical and mental health issues including high blood pressure, a weakened immune system, anxiety, depression and more.
Use Grounding Techniques
Grounding techniques are exercises that may help you refocus on the present moment to distract yourself from anxious feelings. You can use grounding techniques to help create space from distressing feelings in nearly any situation, but they’re especially helpful for improving anxiety, well-being, stress, depression, mood, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and dissociation.
Practice Self-Compassion
If you tend to criticize your thoughts and actions and often are harsh on yourself, you are not alone. Self-criticism is often at the root of mental health challenges including anxiety, stress, and depression. Research has shown that self-compassion can be beneficial to your mental health. Self-compassion can also help regulate emotions, reduce symptoms of stress, depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Those who practice self-compassion are more likely to be optimistic and happy.
Find more information from the references:
Can mindfulness exercises help me? (n.d.). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/mindfulness-exercises/art-20046356
Edwards, C. (2022, March 16). Keep hydrated, eat nutritious food to reduce stress and improve wellbeing - Compass. Compass. https://www.compass-uk.org/news/positive-effect/keep-hydrated-eat-nutritious-food-to-reduce-stress-and-improve-wellbeing/
Healthdirect Australia. (n.d.). Exercise and mental health. Healthdirect. Healthdirect. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/exercise-and-mental-health
Kapil, R. (2020, August 6). The importance of having a support system. Mental Health First Aid. https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2020/08/the-importance-of-having-a-support-system/
Making sleep a priority for Mental Well-Being. (n.d.). https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/apa-blogs/making-sleep-a-priority-for-mental-well-being
Raypole, C. (2025, February 20). 30 Grounding techniques to quiet distressing thoughts. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/grounding-techniques#mental-techniques
Self-Compassion and your mental health\. (n.d.). https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/behavioral-health-partners/bhp-blog/february-2025/self-compassion-and-your-mental-health
SR, V. (2024, July 3). Health benefits of hobbies. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/balance/health-benefits-of-hobbies
Tips on managing your screen time for good Mental Health - NAMI California. (2021, March 12). NAMI California. https://namica.org/blog/tips-on-managing-your-screen-time-for-good-mental-health/
User, G. (2024, July 24). Gratitude Journaling: a daily practice for mental health — Atlanta Wellness Collective | Expert Guidance to Live Life Well. Atlanta Wellness Collective | Expert Guidance to Live Life Well. https://www.atlwell.com/blog/gratitude-journaling