It’s becoming increasingly clear that self-care is not a luxury but a necessity in our lives. Our busy lives, the pressures of social media and the fact that we demand a lot from ourselves take their toll on our mental health.
It’s no wonder that exhaustion and emotional sensitivity have become all too familiar. However, by investing more time in self-care activities, we can improve our mental health.
It’s important to know that it’s not a quick solution, but with consistent dedication, you’ll feel positive changes.
There are many types of self-care activities, and not everything suits everyone. To help you get started, here are four categories of activities that can help you improve your mental health.
- Relaxation and mindfulness
- Emotional well-being
- Self-reflection and personal growth
- Social connection and support

Relaxation and mindfulness
When your energy levels are low, you will notice that your mental resilience also decreases.
By making sure you recharge mentally and physically through relaxation and mindfulness, you will notice that your mental health improves.
- Go for a walk in nature
- Sit down and look at a nice view
- Get 7-9 hours of sleep
- Take a warm bath
- Have a technology-free day, weekend or day
- Create a bedtime and/or morning routine
- Have a spa day (at home)
- Listen to binaural beats
- Do a full body scan
- Practice yoga
- Practice breathing exercises
- Follow a guided meditation
- Mindful eating by chewing each bite 20 times
Emotional well-being
One of the consequences of a lower mental health is that you will experience that you are emotionally less resilient.
You feel stressed, but in addition, you are also more quickly overwhelmed by negative feelings. Keeping them bottled up often backfires, so try to find ways to embrace and express these emotions.
- Write down your thoughts and emotions
- Engage in creative activities (painting, drawing, writing)
- Practice positive affirmations
- Allow yourself to cry and release emotional tension
- Practice gratitude: write down 3 things you’re grateful for
- Connect with supportive online communities
- Look for inspirational books, quotes, or podcasts
- Limit exposure to negative news and media
- Treat yourself with the same kindness as you would give a friend
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Self-confidence and personal growth
By improving your self-confidence and working on your personal development, you will notice that you become mentally stronger as well.
This is partly because you know better who you are and have confidence in yourself, which makes you more resilient.
- Set personal goals and celebrate your achievements
- Do activities that make you feel good about yourself
- Set healthy boundaries
- Listen to personal development podcasts
- Say “no” to activities that drain your energy
- Create a vision board to visualize your goals
- Create a morning routine that sets a positive tone for your day
- Learn time management skills and prioritize tasks effectively
- Read books on personal development or self-help
Social connection and support
To improve your mental health it can be quite helpful to connect with others. In addition to the people you already know, this can also be through sports or communities.
Sometimes, when you are so deep in your thoughts and emotions, it helps to talk about them with someone. So don’t hesitate to ask for help. This is possible with friends and family, but know that it is also very normal to ask for help from a coach or therapist.
- Surround yourself with supportive and positive people
- Call your friends or family
- Spend quality time with loved ones
- Join a club or group with similar interests
- Participate in group activities or team sports
- Volunteer for something you care about
- Reconnect with people from your past
- Share your thoughts and feeling with loved ones
- Ask a coach or therapist for help if needed
The power of self-care activities to improve mental health is undeniable. Taking the time to relax, connect with our emotions, increase personal growth, and creating social connections helps us to improve our mental well-being. Choose activities that suit you, create your own self-care routine, and feel how your mental health grows. And remember, self-care isn’t selfish. It is essential to maintain a healthy mindset.
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