Something that I have talked about a lot is trying to find happiness in things. Mainly since it is something that I think is important and everyone should focus more on. Mental health is something people tend to forget about, it is easy to remember to work out and stay in shape, but it is not always easy to remember to stay on top of your happiness. Personally, I care more for other's happiness rather than mine, which down the road ends up with me not being me. Over the past year, I have made it a goal of mine to love myself and focus on making sure I am happy before trying to make sure others are. Of course, I care deeply for my friends and family (and love to be a personal therapist), but I got to the point where I was preaching happiness to my friends but was not practicing it. I have about six ideas of how I have focused on myself.
**Keep in mind, I am not saying that these things will all work for you! Everyone is different, these are things I do, make them your own if you want! These are just some ideas of what you could try out.
Treat Yourself Night
The first thing I recommend is finding a time you can relax and spend on just yourself. Typically in my life, I forget to check on myself and I am worked up over other things. So, something I have started doing is dedicating one night a week to treating myself. The most common thing I do is different face masks. But, I also watch Netflix, listen to music, or paint! I just find something that I can distract myself from my responsibilities for the night, and do it! It can be as simple or complex as you want. It also can be fun to include other people, when I am at my apartment, my roommates and I spend days painting ever once in a while and they can lead to fun memories.
Find Hobbies
Something I recommend for everyone is hobbies! It is not only a way to do something, but it could be a way to express yourself in a way you did not know possible. I have a few hobbies, I can not say that any of them are super extraordinary, but they are fun ways for me to escape from my other work from time to time. My most recent hobby is painting. I know, I know, basic. But it has been an interesting and fun way to stay busy when I need a break from everything else. I also enjoy it because I have been sending my art to my grandma and she sends her art back. It has been a way that I can to stay connected with her.
Make Solid Relationships
When I say relationships, I do not mean just dating, I mean friendships and relationships within your family. I am more meaning anything but a relationship, to begin with. For me to get my mental health in check, it is important to have a solid support system. That includes friends and family. I know that I can always count on them, whether I need them to keep me entertained, or I need them to leave me alone, they are willing to help out. The reason I say not a romantic relationship is because that can be hard to work on while trying to focus on yourself. To truly be able to love someone else, you need to be able to love yourself first. So, I recommend getting a good group of friends (and your family) and just start there. Make sure that you surround yourself by people you love and who love you back.
Stay Active
A big thing that affects my mental health is how I feel about my body. Typically, I am not happy with it, but over the past few months, I have been working out and trying to feel more comfortable in my own skin. Sports are one of those simple things I have been staying in to try and stay active. It is a fun way to workout and to spend time with friends. So, you accomplish two different things with it! Even just going for walks is a simple way that I have been staying active. I go with my family and we walk the dogs around the neighborhood. There are endless things you can do to stay active, so work at your own pace!
Listen to Music or Watch Something
Something that has never disappointed me is music. No matter what mood I am in, I can put headphones in and escape into a different world thanks to music. I typically listen to Spotify, and there are endless playlists to fill any mood I am in. What else could you ask for?!
If you're not wanting to listen to music, you can also watch videos. One of my favorite things to do is go to YouTube and watch David Dobrik's videos. They are full of endless laughs that always help me to feel better. Netflix is another great choice, but I feel as if it is more for when you are having a treat yourself time. Because you will have more time to sit down and watch more than a five-to-ten minute video.
Incentives!
The final thing that I have picked up on is setting goals for yourself. I like to set goals for school, exercise, meals, hanging out, and more. Then once I reach those goals, I try and find something to reward myself with. An example is during school, midterms and finals can be tough, but when you finish and you feel accomplished, it can be nice to go get something you have been wanting. For me, I recently finished an online maymester and all my hard work paid off. So, my sister and I went out and got some Starbucks as a small treat. It can be that simple, or more complex if you want!
Final Thoughts
These are just a few different things I do in order to stay on top of my mental health. Like I said at the beginning, these things might not work for you, and that is okay! Everyone is different, there is no correct thing to do in order to stay happy. So, find things in your life that make you happy and help you to see the positivity in life. Then act on them. Do whatever you think is necessary!
man running in forestPhoto by 
