Keeping your mental health in check is good for your overall health. When you are mentally fit, you are able to make better decisions when it comes to your life. If you are looking to exchange bad habits for good ones, here are a four that can benefit your mental health.

Acknowledge the good stuff

It’s easy to get yourself caught in a pattern of focusing only on the negative things that happen in your life, which only leads to more negative emotions. Make an effort to pay more attention to the good things in your life and find things that you can be grateful for, like your health, family or friends. This will help you to maintain a positive outlook on life, which is really good for your mental health.

Set boundaries

Respect yourself enough to set clear boundaries. This will let people around you know what you will tolerate and what you will not. This may be a challenge at first, but you will find that the people who care about you will respect your boundaries and start being clear on their own. Don’t be afraid to let go of friends who are not respectful of the boundaries you have drawn because this just shows that they are not interested in your well-being. For example, if one of the boundaries you have set is that you don’t want to be around alcohol or drugs, then your friends should respect that and not try to expose you to situations involving these substances.

Boost your physical health

Taking care of your physical health through exercise is a good way to keep mentally fit. This is because exercise can help reduce stress and anxiety. It clears your mind and gives you an escape from problems by allowing you to get active and produce more of those happy hormones.

Celebrate milestones

Always celebrate your milestones, no matter how small they are. For example, if you were able to finish a book or a challenging chapter in one of your school subjects, you should give yourself a pat on the back for that. Being able to get things done and overcome even the smallest challenges is something worth celebrating, and it will definitely boost your self-esteem.

You can never regret prioritising your mental health and wellbeing and although you may feel down sometimes, developing healthy habits will always help you get up. Know your triggers, find positive ways to cope with stressors and don’t be ashamed to seek help when you need it.

If you or a friend need advice or help, you can contact me here on Ask Choma, send me a Facebook Message, a Twitter DM, or a WhatsApp Message (071 172 3657).