I recently posted on LinkedIn about a meeting with a few colleagues where we talked about the importance of focusing on the positive. My post seemed to resonate with people—in social media parlance, “it generated a lot of engagement,” at least a lot by my modest standards! In all seriousness, though, it was gratifying to hear that others agreed and reinforced the idea that we can change and improve our mood simply by changing our perspective. Yes, life can feel overwhelming and leave you discouraged and depleted sometimes, but there are things that we can do to counteract that.
We kind of know this already. It’s why the phrase doomscrolling was invented, and why studies on the harm that excessive social media use can cause are proliferating. Other studies have shown that simply smiling, regardless of how you actually feel, can improve your mood. Glass half empty or half full and the proverbial “look for the silver lining” also encourage looking at a negative situation in a hopeful, positive way.
This reminder that I can change my outlook, boost my mood, and reduce my stress levels is especially timely because May is Mental Health Awareness Month. The power to live a more emotionally balanced life lies partly within ourselves, and it doesn’t necessarily require much effort—just a different perspective. A commitment to looking on the brighter side can make a real difference.
I want to be clear: I am not addressing serious mental illnesses such as depression or others that can and should be treated professionally. Part of the goal of Mental Health Awareness Month is to bring greater awareness and support to those suffering from mental illness, to reduce the associated stigma, and to advocate for better care and resources. But it is also designed to highlight the importance of mental well-being overall. We should prioritize and actively manage our mental well-being just as much as we care for our physical well-being. Treating any diagnosed or serious illness, physical or mental, is critical, but we can also proactively—and sometimes quite simply and even pleasantly—take actions to improve our mental health.
Consider the following, all of which have been shown to have a positive effect on mood, stress, and overall mental well-being:
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Eat healthier
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Exercise
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Sleep
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Meditate
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Dance
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Laugh
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Listen to music
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Have a pet
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Go outdoors and connect with nature
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Volunteer and help others
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Spend time with loved ones
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Practice gratitude
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Pursue hobbies
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Learn something new
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Breathe, mindfully
Eating healthier and exercising regularly for better health—physical or mental—is not a news flash, but I think many of the other things on the list we often view as indulgences or frivolous. We eat lunch at our desk instead of with a friend because we have that report to write. We answer a few more emails before our next call rather than take a short walk or sit on the porch breathing fresh air for ten minutes. How many books are sitting on your bedside table waiting to be read? Yarn waiting to be knit? Frisbee, football, or tennis racquet gathering dust? It’s easy to brush these off as “nice to dos” or “when I get the time,” but they are more than that.
Believe me, I understand as much as anyone what a challenging balancing act life is, and how necessary it often is to prioritize work or focus on a problem, difficult situation, or task. I just want to remind myself—and anyone who takes the time to read my musings (thank you!)—that taking care of yourself also needs to be on the list of priorities. When it comes to mental well-being, there are simple, enjoyable things that we can do to keep ourselves healthier and happier. It doesn’t take heavy lifting—unless lifting weights is something that brings you joy!
Now that I’ve written this, I’m going to head outside with my kids for a little while. Freeze tag? Looking for shapes in the clouds? Listening to how their day at school was? Maybe all of them—I’m not sure yet—but I know I’ll feel better, and be better, when we head back inside to cook dinner.
What’s your go-to mental health break?