Mental health has been stigmatized for a long time, but in 2026, it has become one of the prime aspects of life. Find out some of the best practices to boost your well-being.
2026 has arrived, but are we doing well? Considering the geopolitics, wars, climate change, and other worse incidents like the Epstein files, it is safe to say that no one is doing well. Even if you are trying to get better at your personal level, the surroundings and social awareness will make you feel sick when you get to know what is happening around you. It is neither right nor easy to stay ignorant towards everything, but what we can actively do is to put some effort into improving our mental health, which allows us to live without well-being and stay strong regardless of the thousands of adversities life throws at us. Taking care of your mental health does not really mean being happy; it means being content with your life. Let’s find some healthy practices that can boost your mental health.
- Three Self-care Goals
Even though we talk a lot about self-care and self-love, a lot of people fail to follow the practices since they do not consider it mandatory. Instead of waiting for downtime to embrace self-care, try to consider it as a part of your daily life to keep a healthy mental well-being. You cannot fulfill self-goals when you are depressed and hit rock bottom. Try to fix three self-care goals every month and stick with them to complete them. These slow and gradual steps can help to make a big difference. If you are clueless about what goals to fix, read self-care books to have a better idea.
- Spend More Time in Nature
Nature needs to be saved as it saves us, but unfortunately, the climate crisis is a major issue right now, and the natural resources of the Earth are slowly being depleted or decaying. In order to keep ourselves alive and sane amidst the chaos of life, it is important to spend more time in nature. A lot of mental health experts and philosophers have emphasized the importance of ‘touching grass’, which is a healthy practice that is important for human well-being. Nature can be considered a healing agent for life. It is recommended to travel more and participate in outdoor activities to stay in touch with nature. Nature can impact your mind and keep it calm.
- Regular Mental Health Checkup
Just like you pay a regular visit to your dentist, you should also go for regular mental health check-ups to understand the health of your mind. If you find therapy or counseling sessions to be costly, you can take online mental health tests that are safe, anonymous, and confidential. The test is also free in most cases, but sometimes a nominal fee may be required.
- Talk About Your Mental Health
Have you ever opened up about your mental health? Have you shared with anyone about your condition and how you feel? Mental health is often stigmatized, and it is also a taboo to many. But talking about it can help to normalize it. Try to talk about your mental health with your friends or the close ones who are empathetic and can understand your situation without shaming you for it. You can also share posts regarding mental health on social media, which also showcases your confidence and the fact that you are not afraid to talk about your issues.
- Good Physical Health = Good Mental Health
Our physical health is connected with our mental health, and when you have a healthy physical body, it can directly impact your mental health. Therefore, working out not only makes you physically strong but also improves your mental health through better blood circulation and hormone secretions. Exercise is a great way to make yourself feel better and more confident. There is no greater feeling than having a healthy body that sleeps without stress and eats without guilt.
- Unwind and De-stress
Stress is one of the greatest enemies of human health in the modern era, since 8 to 9 people out of every 10 are suffering from stress and anxiety. These mental health issues can drain you easily, and stress is also the leading cause of most terminal diseases, as it secretes cortisol. Therefore, it is highly important to find some effective ways of unwinding and de-stressing that are suitable for you. Having a hobby helps in this case, but if you do not have one, you can start with anything simple and satisfying, such as painting or listening to music.
- Healthy Sleep Cycles
People who are getting an adequate amount of sleep are more likely to be healthy, as sleeping replenishes our mind and body. Most people in the modern era are online users, and the increasing digital timing is also reducing sleep for humans and depriving them of rest, which is also a condition that ruins mental and gut health. It is time to resist the urge to zone out on social media or watch series on OTT platforms, as you need to sleep. Aim to sleep at least 8 hours every day to keep your mind fresh and energized. Without enough sleep, you can feel dizzy and nauseated, which affects the mind.
- A ‘Calm Space’ in Your Home
Your home, sweet home, is also the place where you heal, and it should include the things that make you relaxed. Just like everyone creates a sweet corner with house plants or fairy lights for unwinding and recreational purposes, you should also create a calm space in your home where you can just be yourself without the worries of the world. This is not just important but necessary, just like hibernation is necessary for bears.
- Get Time to Reflect
In this busy life, you are just living every day by following a repetitive, busy schedule, where you get very little time to think about what you are doing and what you want to do. Inspection is important as life does not come at you; it grows within you, and if you are not able to look back at yourself, there will be no changes. Self-reflection is a crucial aspect of growth, and it requires looking inwards rather than just trying expand outwards.
- Support a Noble Cause
There should be something in your life that you really care for other than your family. Whether you care for child safety, animal health, or deforestation, you can always support some noble cause to make this world a better place, and doing so will give a massive amount of positivity that you earn through kindness and empathy. By investing your time or money, you can actually help people bring a positive change that inspires and influences others.
- Daily Journaling Can Help
Journal writing is not a fancy idea, but it is actually effective when it comes to mental health and wellness. Even if you just spend 5 minutes every day to write a few lines in a journal to express how you feel, it can take away your mental pressure of keeping all those thoughts inside. Journal offers a fruitful way to express your deeper thoughts through writing. Continue with these practices, and you will notice a change within yourself in a few days.
- Practice Gratitude
Do you know that even a simple ‘Thank You’ can make someone’s day? Sharing gratitude is one of the greatest ways to feel good about life and be grateful for it. Gratitude feels like a win-win emotion for both parties, as saying thank you not only makes the other person happy but also makes you feel more positive about life. This practice can keep you grounded and humble, and you will rant less about life as everyone shares some kind of trouble. Be thankful for the things you have and can have; it is a privilege!
- Cleaning by Donation
There is a saying that ‘someone’s trash is another man’s treasure’, and there is a positive take in it. There might be a lot of stuff in your house that you do not even use. It can be an old guitar, a Nintendo, or maybe a pair of shoes that you do not wear. You can declutter your house by donating old stuff to people who really need it. It is true that you can conduct a garage sale or auction to sell those items, but donating them can offer greater satisfaction when you see the smile on the other person’s face.
- Breathing Exercises (Pranayama and Meditation)
Have you ever thought about how the yogis and sadhus can survive days without having food or any energy? It is the breathing practices that keep them calm and maintain sanity even in the toughest situations. Breathing exercises are great for keeping your mind calm and getting rid of anxiety and stress. One of the most common techniques is to inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4, exhale for 4, and hold again for 4. You can repeat as needed, and this practice can also help you in case of palpitations and panic attacks.
- Signs of Affirmation
It is quite easy to doubt ourselves even with the slightest bit of inconvenience, but it is quite hard to stay true to our path. Always remember that fact, “We’re all first-time humans. Give yourself grace as you keep learning and changing.” You would see a lot of influencers on social media these days who are inspiring others, and they can be a good source of positivity if you are lacking words of affirmation in your life. Watching inspiring content on social media can also help you stay motivated if you are not overwhelmed by it.
- Mental Health Awareness Programs
As mentioned before, mental health is still a taboo concept for many people, who often skip on this stigmatized topic. As a result, we are not taught or educated about mental health, and that is why most of us are struggling these days. If you are also feeling lost, you can participate in the mental health awareness programs where you can learn more about yourself and other mental health patients.
- Visit Somewhere New
We humans tend to get fixated quite easily, and it is about dating life. In general, we humans are more likely to search for our comfort zones, and when we find it, we get fixated on it, and not getting out of it is what makes it even worse. We need to constantly expose ourselves to new places and new activities that can make us awkward at first, but it can be a refreshing feeling as well, since it opens up new opportunities and possibilities.
- Furry Folks are The Best!
There is absolutely no doubt that animals can cheer up more than humans can. Doesn’t your heart get warm and fuzzy when you get to see, pet, and play with the furry folks? It does not matter whether you are a cat lover or a dog lover, as long as you have a furry friend; cuddling them can help to lower stress hormones and boost your mood. However, a lot of people do not have pets, and if you are also one of them, you can contact an adoption shelter or volunteer for it to spend time with them. Experts have already confirmed that animal companionship can improve mental health, and thus, there are therapy dogs, cats, and even horses.
- Stay Hydrated
While it might sound silly because you think water has nothing to do with your thoughts, your hydration levels can directly affect your mental health. When you are dehydrated and not consuming an adequate amount of water, it dries you up from the inside and affects your thoughts, making you cranky, stressed, and uneasy. A healthy adult should try to drink at least 64 ounces or 3-4 liters of water every day in order to stay hydrated and healthy.
- Focus on Personal Connections
You know, the hardest part of being an adult is not securing a job, but making friends. In this busy life, we get very little time to mingle with others and hang out with friends, but these social interactions are very important in our human life, where we share connections. If you really like someone and enjoy spending time with them, try to connect with them actively by taking the initiative and making time. There is a thin line between loneliness and solitude, and friends can make you forget about it.
- Try Out New Coping Skills
We are all coping out in our respective lives, and sometimes it is not easy. Fortunately, there are many simple practices that can help you cope with a majority of situations in your life. Some examples of coping skills are progressive muscle relaxation, belly breathing, watching your favorite movie, and the list goes on. Not all the coping skills are the same for everyone, as everyone works with different mechanisms. Yet, learning the common practices can help navigate better.
- Building Healthy Boundaries
Boundaries are very important in life, especially in your adult life, where we tend to live more freely and try new experiences. There is a limit to everything, even to the best things in your life. You should reflect upon the healthy boundaries that you need to live a more peaceful life. One of the prime examples of building boundaries would be learning to say no. Saying no is not so easy, especially when the approach comes from your friends and people you know. But saying no is also an act of courage that shows your truthfulness and willingness to follow what your heart says. When you feel ready, it is time to share your boundaries with others so that they do not cross them.
- Take a Look at Spirituality
Spirituality is a different aspect from religion, and it can be practiced by anyone who is willing to. If you are willing to explore spirituality as well, try to join a faith community or spend time in nature, where you can find the true sense of spirituality. Remember, it comes from within, and looking for spirituality in different places would not work unless you find it within you.
- A Community Event Sounds Good
You can always attend a community event, as there are plenty of them happening around you. Starting from local film festivals to community potlucks, sports events, or even backyard barbeques, you can find plenty of events and activities to participate in. These events are also great for socialization and help to connect with like-minded people with whom you can resonate easily.
- Learn to Cook New Dishes
Cooking is a very nourishing activity, and it can greatly improve your mental health. Cooking is so therapeutic when you consider it as a hobby rather than a task. In this age of the internet, you can easily find out the dishes and recipes from different countries, and trying them out can be a memorable experience. Coking can also be considered a creative expression that channels through food. Once you learn how to cook, more than eating, you will find joy in feeding others, and that is one of the greatest feelings that you can have. It comes with a lot of positivity when your food is appreciated.
- Find Out Your Strengths and Weaknesses
A person who is fully aware of their own strengths and weaknesses is a more powerful person than the rest, as they learned to acknowledge and accept. Just like you do not need to brag about your strongholds, you are not required to hide your weaknesses either, at least from yourself. If this feels hard, try asking people close to you what they think your top 3 strengths are. At the end of the day, you should understand what you are rather than what people say. To be honest, people will judge you anyway, and they are not supposed to love you. But you are supposed to love yourself, and you’d better be proud when you stand in front of the mirror.
- Plan a Break for Yourself
Even after following all the good practices, sometimes your mental health does not improve immediately. And that is the signal for you to plan a break from your busy daily routine. While it is not possible to take breaks often, try to take them when you can and do not miss out. Our monotonous work life stops us from enjoying the little things in life, and that is why you need to plan for a trip, an escape that can offer you peace and change your perception of life.
