I Do Mental Health Every Day

Just as you might contemplate, plan, and do physical health, almost without thinking, every day, I do mental health.

Why would you not invest daily in your happiness, peace of mind, emotional strength and soothing?

In the same way you do your mental health. Carefully, nonchalantly, intentionally, easily. Happiness is not some magically holy grail, it is something you figure out how to put effort and thought into every day like you do with eating your veggies.

Some things I do include getting outside — easy to forget this one in an era of working from home — sleeping and resting sufficiently — easy to forget in this hard working culture we live in — and spending time connecting with people I love. These might all sound obvious, but they are important, and, as I said, easy to forget to regularly (ever day) invest in.

I also make sure to get about 5,000 steps per day, as a mental health goal primarily. Not a physical health goal. I play music to “process” emotions. I do The Work of Byron Katie. I do breathing exercises, journaling, and meditation and meditation-adjacent activities.

I get sun in my face by 2pm every day in the winter months when the sun is low and the clouds are grayer. I eat food that gives me energy rather than takes it. I spend creative and intellectual effort on thrilling books, ideas, and whimsical projects. And more.

All for my mental health.

Every day. Just like you do daily, average, normal stuff for your physical health every day.