Your ultimate guide to best things for mental health

Best Things for Mental Health: Simple Daily Practices

The best things that you can do for your mental health are not one-time fixes—they are investments in your long-term well-being. Every time you practice behaviors that are good for your mental health, you build resilience, balance, and strength.

Too often, we only focus on mental health when we notice signs of deterioration or when things feel overwhelming. But why wait until the lowest point? The truth is, the best things for mental health can be started today, and small steps can make a huge difference.

What works may look different for everyone. The key is building a toolkit of self-care habits that you can rely on. With stronger mental health, you’ll likely see improvements in productivity, physical health, and even longevity.

If you’re still figuring out what’s good for mental health, don’t worry—there’s no set timeline. Mental wellness is a personal journey, and your path doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.

Yes, there will be barriers. You may feel unmotivated or tempted to give up. But remember: not all progress is linear, and every small step counts toward improving your emotional well-being.

Here are a quick view of the best things you can incorporate, starting today:

• Daily exercise to release stress and boost energy
• Mindfulness and meditation for clarity and calm
• Journaling to process emotions and set intentions
• Healthy sleep habits to restore your mind and body
• Nourishing foods that fuel brain health
• Strong social connections to provide support and belonging

More in depth practices you can do over time:

#1 Get your eating habits right

Your physical and mental health can be buddies or enemies i.e. they may work together or they may not. However, they will always influence each other. While fast food is tasty, it’s a dopamine kick at the end of the day.

What your body and mind need are nourishing foods that help you grow and feel better. Start taking small steps to see the results. For instance, try for yourself by cutting down on sugar for two to three weeks: does it impact how you feel?

#2 Engage in some physical activity

Any form of physical activity can boost your well-being. You can hit the gym, practice yoga, dance in your room or engage in slow movements, there’s so much to choose from.

If that sounds overwhelming, take a five-minute walk today, and increase it every day.

#3 Orient yourself towards realistic positivity

While toxic positivity can hamper your well-being, realistic positivity can push you to work on yourself and your goals.

We’re living in an emotionally draining and negative world. Most of us have difficulty engaging in positive self-talk.

#4 Form connections

Humans are meant to co-regulate. While managing things on your own and becoming indpendent is cool, sometimes you need a shoulder to fall back on.

Try to engage and form deeper relationships. Social isolation has a direct influence on brain health. Our neurons connect to each other, and so should you.

#5 Regulate your nervous system

Harnessing your nervous energies is an evergreen and powerful tool. There are many ways to regulate your emotions and nervous system. One of the most important ones is engaging in vagus nerve exercises.

When you have the right tools to access your nervous system, you enhance your agency and control over your well-being. You become in charge of your wellness.

These are some of the best ways to slowly and steadily improve your mental and emotional wellness. Remember, that all of these have dividends even if you don’t see the results immediately.We’re in a age where mental health research is consistently expanding, yet we forget to take care of it. Many individuals still believe that mental health is not real. What are your thoughts on this? Would you still want to invest in it and use these best things for mental health?

Janvi Kapur is a counselor with a Master’s degree in applied psychology with a specialization in clinical psychology.