As you go down the road of improving your mental health, you might come across the topic of nurturing your own mental health. This means you work on yourself and your mindset and do what you can each day to manage your own mental health. It doesn’t replace medications or seeking out therapy, but it can be used in conjunction with it. This all depends on you and what mental illnesses you struggle with.

Here are some ways you can start to nurture your own mental health.

Understand and Accept Where You Are Today

To nurture your mental health, it requires a level of acceptance. Not accepting that it will never get better, but just understanding where you are today at this moment. Get to a place where you aren’t constantly trying to get to the next level if it is berating who you are and where you are right now. 

This can apply to anything in your life, from your physical appearance to your habits, profession, personal relationships, and of course your mental health. Stop putting so much pressure on yourself to constantly change and be better, and just find a place of acceptance.

Have Scheduled “Me” Time

Yes, we’re talking about self-care. Just because it has become a trending topic the last few years, doesn’t mean it isn’t important and valuable! Self-care is nothing more than your “me” time. Activities that you choose to do for your own happiness, contentment, health, and fulfillment. 

When thinking about self-care, don’t rely so much on what others choose to do. Self-care is a very personal thing, so the activities you choose to do during your “me time” might be completely different from someone else. It can be completing an art project, doing a puzzle, watching your favorite show, taking a nap, going for a walk, or taking a bath. There are no limits and no right or wrong way to do it.

Log Off and Find Relaxing Activities

Sometimes, the best thing you can do for your own mental health is to log off. Turn the phone off, shut off the television and close your computer. It is not uncommon for social media and a constant flux of news and opinions to harm your mental health without realizing it. If you find that you get angry, sad, frustrated, or feel inferior when you log onto Instagram or Facebook, it’s time to take more breaks from it. Give your mind a break and focus on other activities.

Know When it’s Time to Let Go

Letting go can be a difficult part of life, but it is often something you need to embrace in order to nurture your mental health. This can be letting go of people who tend to be a negative influence or just toxic in general, letting go of a job you hate that is causing more anxiety, letting go of habits that are no longer serving you.