9 home activities to improve mental health and boost well-being

Collaborative Post | The conversation about mental health is growing louder, and being heard too. We’ve survived a pandemic and all the difficulties associated with it, but it took its toll. Taking care of mental health and well-being is a need now.

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​Fortunately, there is plenty you can do for your mental health in the comfort of your own home. Here are 9 home activities to improve mental health and boost well-being:
 
Playing games: Taking care of mental health does not require you to perform tedious tasks. It can be something as simple as playing some games, either solo, against the computer, or with your loved ones. If you love card games, playing solitaire online can also count as taking care of your mental health.
 
Reading books: Enrich your mind, spark your imagination, or escape to wonderland - the choice is yours. You could even learn a new fact or two. Read on your e-device or enjoy the smell of a new book - the choice is yours. Take a seat by the windowsill or relax in the bathtub with a book- again, the choice is yours and yours alone. Do what grants you the peace and pleasure you crave.
 
Playing with pets: Furry friends are like therapy on paws. A few minutes of play with your pet can rejuvenate you and recharge your mental health. You don’t even have to plan an elaborate play routine. Just catch hold of a ball or a string and get started. Your furry friend will join you with glee.
 
Taking care of indoor plants: Humans need to see greenery around. If you cannot step out every day, bring some of the green inside in the form of indoor plants. Nurturing tender, young and vibrant plants can prove healing for you. And when flowers blossom on some of them, something inside you will bloom too - happiness and self-esteem.
 
Exercise and meditation: Exercise is not only good for your physical health it can also work wonders for your mental health. Don’t force yourself to do strenuous exercises that you don’t even like. Instead, get some exercise in the form that you like. For instance, if you enjoy skipping, go ahead, grab that skipping rope, and start. Meditation can boost your mental health too. You can meditate on your own or follow one of the guiding audios easily available online.
 
Making some art: Art therapy exists and with good reason. If you find it calming to fill colour within lines, get yourself a colouring book and some coloured pencils. It may be that you like your art to flow freely. If that is the case, grab some paints and paper or canvas and let it flow. Paint with your fingers or with brushes. Replicate a favourite scene or prepare an abstract design. Art offers plenty of opportunities for enhancing mental health.
 
Cuddling with your loved one: Never underestimate the magic of a simple hug. Therapists recommend 8-12 hugs a day. Some hugs a day can keep the woes at bay! Of course, since this involves another person, you need to take their permission and be mindful of their comfort as well. If it is acceptable to you and your special one at that particular time, relax with a cuddling session.
 
Maintaining a journal: This is also a highly recommended activity. It is a therapy that requires no other person and no expensive tools. Just a diary and a pen are sufficient for sorting through your thoughts and mental processes. Getting everything down on paper makes it easier for you to look at it from different perspectives. A journal need not have a format, but if you are stuck, you can refer to journaling prompts online.
 
Taking a nap or getting some rest: Understandably, not everyone can go to sleep when they want. Many people struggle with falling asleep. If you are one of the lucky ones who can drift off to sleep as soon as they hit the bed, then take advantage of it. When you feel overwhelmed, take a nap. If you are amongst those who find it hard to sleep a wink without first tossing and turning in bed for hours, don’t pressure yourself to fall asleep. Just straighten your back and take some rest. Light some aromatherapy candles and snuggle in bed.
 
Conclusion
 
Taking care of your mental health need not be daunting or tricky. Simple and small activities that you fit into your routine here and there can boost your mental health. Do things you love, eat nutritious food, and stay connected with the people you love. You deserve to be happy and healthy.


Disclaimer: this is a collaborative post.